TBI and Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Need for Research

As someone who has worked with children diagnosed with developmental disorders for about three years now, the topic of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and diagnosis is close to my heart. The ages of zero to three is a key point in development for a child. Traumatic brain injury has been linked to showing increased signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and other developmental disorders. The chances of being diagnosed with ADHD, ASD, or other developmental diagnosis increases with the number of brain injuries. Most often developmental diagnoses are given between the ages of three-years-old and five-years-old. By the time a child is showing signs of a developmental delay that traumatic brain injury may have already occurred. Once diagnosed, it can lead to a lifetime impact.

Often, children who receive these diagnoses receive various forms of therapy (speech therapy, occupational therapy, and/or applied behavioral analysis therapy) that have been recommended from their pediatrician. TBI can result in diagnosed disorders that require extra assistance once the individual reaches school age, such as personal or classroom aids. According to Chang et al., 2018, TBI appears to be linked to ADHD symptoms and more research needs to be conducted to assess the rate of ASD diagnosis following TBI. However, the symptoms present similarity and it is worth looking into because developmental diagnoses do have a life-long impact on the individuals diagnosed, their families, teachers, and schools.

Chang, H.-K., Hsu, J.-W., Wu, J.-C., Huang, K.-L., Chang, H.-C., Bai, Y.-M., Chen, T.-J., & Chen, M.-H. (2018). Traumatic brain injury in early childhood and risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder: A nationwide longitudinal study. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 79(6). https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.17m11857