Executive Function - Definition. Photo by: ktsdesign Definition The term executive function describes a set of cognitive abilities that control and regulate other abilities and behaviors.
Executive functions are necessary for goal-directed behavior. They include the ability to initiate and stop actions, to monitor and change behavior as needed, and to plan future behavior when faced with novel tasks and situations. 2011 ICD-9-CM Diagnosis Code 907.0 : Late effect of intracranial injury without skull fracture. Dr Jonathan Reed - Child Neuropsychology » Blog Archive » Mild Head Injury in Children-missing the problem. I have been working clinically with children with head injury now for over 12 years and this has allowed me to see the longitudinal effects of childhood head injury for myself.
What I have noticed is that some children with what appeared to initially be mild head injury (i.e. no prolonged loss of consciousness) continued to have problems over time. I have looked at these cases in some detail and their developmental problem can’t be explained by pre morbid functioning (i.e. any difficulties before the head injury). This experience is not what the textbooks say is supposed to happen. Mild head injury is thought to be associated with better prognosis and is very rarely followed up by medical services. However, three new studies this year suggest that Mild Head Injury may result in more problems than previously though. Traumatic Brain Injury in young children associated with later ADHD and Conduct Problems. - Child Psychology Research Blog.
A few weeks ago I reviewed a study on the long-term effects of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in children.
I mentioned in that review that previous research led to the likely incorrect assumption that the effects of mild TBI were temporary and that most kids would recover without noticeable effects within a few months. Unfortunately that study showed that children with mild TBI continue to show sub-clinical emotional and behavioral symptoms as late as 12-months after the injury.This past weekend I came across a new study that expand upon those findings. Researchers in New Zealand were able to examine data from a large cohort of children that were born in 1977 and who had participated in a comprehensive epidemiological examination of various aspects of child development. The authors of this particular study were interested in examining three specific issues.