Evidence-Based Clinical Considerations in Pediatric TBI: Assessment
Presented by Angela Ciccia
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Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of acquired disability, impacting cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and communicative development. This course provides an evidence-based framework for speech-language pathologists in assessing pediatric TBI, emphasizing the critical interplay between injury and developmental processes. Clinicians will explore how timing, severity, and contextual factors influence outcomes and learn to apply the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model to guide holistic assessment practices. Through review of current epidemiological data, clinical case examples, and validated tools, the course equips speech-language pathologists and other pediatric rehabilitation providers with strategies to identify deficits and plan individualized interventions across diverse settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, and schools.
Learning Objectives
- Examine current trends in incidence and prevalence of pediatric traumatic brain injury
- Determine the impact that a TBI received during childhood has on the developmental processes
- Apply the ICF in assessment of pediatric TBI
- Choose appropriate assessment tools and strategies along the management continuum for pediatric TBI
Meet your instructor
Angela Ciccia
Angela Hein Ciccia is a professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Ciccia’s research focuses on factors that impact children’s ability to recover/develop in the presence of a diagnosis of an acquired (new-onset) and/or developmental neurogenic communication disorder. Dr.…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Introduction
This chapter provides an overview of the incidence and prevalence of pediatric TBI, highlighting its status as a major public health issue. The discussion includes age-related vulnerability, common post-injury deficits, and how TBI compares with other developmental diagnoses, such as autism. Clinicians must understand these trends in order to contextualize assessment and anticipate the range of challenges a child may face following injury.
2. The Intersection of Injury and Development Throughout Recovery
In this chapter, learners examine how the timing of a TBI interacts with critical developmental windows, affecting recovery trajectories. Key risk and protective factors are explored, including injury severity, socioeconomic status, and family stress. The chapter reframes TBI as a chronic condition with evolving effects, underscoring the need for long-term support and developmental monitoring into adolescence and young adulthood.
3. Assessment in Pediatric TBI
This chapter introduces a comprehensive assessment approach using the ICF framework to capture the multifaceted impact of pediatric TBI. Clinicians will learn how to gather a credible injury history, select appropriate standardized tools, and evaluate real-world participation and contextual influences. Emphasis is placed on assessing functional communication and cognitive-communication skills across settings to guide meaningful, individualized interventions.
