AAP event shines a light on new brain injury research
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013 15:14 PM

During the American Academy of Pediatrics' National Conference & Exhibition, which runs from Oct. 26-29 in Orlando, Fla., attendees can learn about new practices and advances straight from leaders in pediatrics, according to the event's website. It is also the place to be for those who wish to hear about the latest research related to children and their cranial health.

During the event, the researchers behind two recent studies on brain injuries shared their findings.

Brain injuries could lead to mood changes
In one of the studies, titled "Depression in Children Diagnosed with Brain Injury or Concussion," researcher Matthew C. Wylie set out to see if children face the same risk of developing depression after receiving a head injury that adults do. To learn more, Wylie and his colleagues worked with data from the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health.

The researchers found that of children who had sustained brain injuries or concussions, 15 percent were also diagnosed with depression. Based on this research, it may be possible to identify children with brain injuries who are more likely to develop depression in the future.

"After adjustment for known predictors of depression in children like family structure, developmental delay and poor physical health, depression remained two times more likely in children with brain injury or concussion," said Wylie.

If parents notice any type of change in their children's mood following a brain injury or concussion, having them take a personality test may help identify symptoms of depression.

A concussion may require a break from school
Researcher Mark Halstead also conducted a study involving concussions among children. Halstead's research, however, focused on how such an injury affects kids' ability to perform in school.

In a clinical report, titled "Returning to Learning Following a Concussion," Halstead touched on how students' return to academics should reflect the severity of their injury.

"Students appear physically normal after a concussion, so it may be difficult for teachers and administrators to understand the extent of the child's injuries and recognize the potential need for academic adjustments," said Halstead. "But we know that children who've had a concussion may have trouble learning new material and remembering what they've learned, and returning to academics may worsen concussion symptoms."

In addition to knowing the right time to send children back to school, it also helps for parents to know how their kids' cognitive abilities have been affected by their concussion. The results of an IQ test for kids could provide parents with the answers they seek.