Can Eye Movements Predict Persistent Problems in Paediatric Mild TBI?
Can Volitional and Reflexive Saccadic Eye Movements Predict Persistent Problems after Mild Head Injury in Children?
Chief Investigator: Dr Larry Abel, A/ Professor Jacinta Douglas
Lead Organisation: University of Melbourne
VNI Funding: $332,828
Project Start Date: 01-Nov-08
Project Summary:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is very common amongst children. 85% of these are mild. Mild TBI is not without consequences, including sensory problems and impaired attention. This is particularly significant because it goes against a widespread assumption that children’s brains are more "plastic" and thus better able to withstand even significant trauma. Some consequences may only become evident when children fail to meet normal milestones. Australia’s outdoors, sport-oriented culture means the potential for a child to suffer some degree of long-term impairment from a common recreational activity is considerable. If we could detect early which children were most at risk, we could intervene sooner, directing rehabilitation resources only to those who would benefit. Recent adult studies have shown a battery of eye movement tasks to be predictors of subsequent impairment. We propose similar tests in children with mild TBI. Eye movements are readily quantified and related to specific brain circuits. We will repeatedly test the children to determine which tasks best predict later problems. We anticipate that performance on internally triggered but not reflexive eye movement tasks will be impaired in children with mild TBI and that poorer performance will be associated with persistent impairment as measured on neuropsychological assessments.
