Recovery profiles of cognitive-sensory modalities in patients in the minimally conscious state following traumatic brain injury

Over the past two decades there has been an increasing number of patients surviving severe traumatic brain injury and entering rehabilitation facilities at an earlier phase in their recovery. These patients often present in a minimally conscious state and are difficult to objectively assess. As a result, a number of batteries have been developed targeting this population. The Western Neuro Sensory Stimulation Profile (WNSSP) was used in the present study to identify patterns in recovery of cognitive-sensory modalities. The WNSSP records of 25 patients in a minimally conscious state were examined and profiles of recovery over four test occasions of a subset of 12 patients were examined in detail. Results demonstrated that within this highly heterogeneous group, Object Manipulation was an early emerging skill, and trends to significance were also observed in Auditory Response, Visual Tracking and Olfactory Response. A case study is presented to illustrate how the WNSSP results can be utilised to direct individualised treatment planning.