Adolescents with closed head injury. Neuropsychological consequences.

Abstract

Individuals in the adolescent age group are at particularly high risk for being involved in accidents. Closed head injury is a common consequence of motor vehicle crashes. As acute medical interventions are becoming more sophisticated and successful, more teenagers are surviving such accidents. However, cognitive deficits frequently result in weaknesses in intelligence, memory capacity, and abstract thinking. Such weaknesses can emerge in cases of mild head trauma as well. These cognitive deficits can have a profound impact on the adolescent's academic, social, and family functioning.