Pediatric TBI: Policy, Advocacy, and Evidence-Based Service Delivery
Presented by Angela Ciccia
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Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains one of the most underrecognized and underfunded childhood conditions despite its lifelong impact on health, learning, and quality of life. This course examines the systemic and policy-level barriers that limit access to care and outlines advocacy strategies that speech-language pathologists and other providers can use to improve service delivery. From navigating IDEA, Section 504, Medicaid, and private insurance to engaging with national and local organizations, learners will gain tools to support more equitable and sustained intervention for youth with TBI. This course is applicable to clinicians working in medical, educational, or community settings who aim to lead or participate in meaningful systems change.
Learning Objectives
- Identify systemic barriers that limit access to service delivery and eligibility for pediatric TBI
- Identify strategies for effective advocacy within school and healthcare systems to support timely identification and intervention for children with TBI
- List current service delivery models and propose improvements that align with best practices and policy mandates to enhance access and outcomes for children with TBI
- Identify community partners that are working on improving access to care, and larger brain injury policy, at the local, state, and national levels for pediatric TBI
Meet your instructor
Angela Ciccia
Angela Hein Ciccia is an assistant 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…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Introduction
This chapter introduces the foundational principles of treating cognitive-communication challenges in children with TBI. It highlights the importance of early, multidisciplinary, and family- and school-centered intervention, even for mild injuries with lingering symptoms. Clinicians are also introduced to evolving trends in care, including the use of teletherapy and increased guideline-driven treatment options.
2. Current Evidence-Based Treatment Strategies
This chapter presents established treatment methods for attention, memory, executive function, and social communication, emphasizing functional and developmentally appropriate strategies. The role of metacognitive training, environmental supports, and generalization to real-life tasks is explored. Clinicians will also learn how to integrate restorative and compensatory approaches based on individual needs.
3. Modifications of Treatment Approaches
In this chapter, treatment adaptations are examined based on injury severity, care setting (hospital, rehabilitation, school), and developmental considerations. Specific strategies are provided for managing mild, moderate, and severe TBI across the recovery timeline. The importance of aligning intervention methods with the child’s cognitive readiness and environmental context is emphasized to optimize recovery and participation.