Comparing Attention Process Training and Activity-based Attention Training After Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)

Abstract Background: Attention and memory deficits are common following paediatric acquired brain injury (ABI). However, there are few evidence-based interventions to improve these domains and benefit the everyday life of children post-injury. The Amsterdam Memory and Attention Training for children (Amat-c) has been translated from Dutch to English and shown to improve attention and memory skills in children following ABI. This protocol describes a study to expand accessibility of the program by using online, clinician-supported delivery with children post-ABI. Method/design: The study is a randomized controlled trial. Participants will be 40 children aged 8–16 a minimum of one-year post-ABI. Participants in the treatment group will complete 18 weekly sessions of the Amat-c program with weekly online clinician support. Participants in the active-control group will be administered ABI psychoeducation via a booklet for parents, with weekly online clinician contact. Attention and memory will be assessed at three time points up to six months post-intervention. Results: Analysis will be repeated measures multivariate planned comparisons; using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Statistics) General Linear Model procedure will compare pre- and post-intervention and six-month follow-up outcomes. Discussion: If shown efficacious in improving attention and memory, our team will then take a key role in implementing Amat-c into clinical care.

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Improving Discourse following Traumatic Brain Injury: A Tale of Two Treatments

Seminars in Speech and Language ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1712116 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (05) ◽

pp. 365-382

Author(s):

Amy Henderson ◽

Mackenzie A. Roeschlein ◽

Heather Harris Wright

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Cognitive Processes ◽

Treatment Protocol ◽

Functional Communication ◽

Discourse Production ◽

Attention Process ◽

Processing Treatment ◽

Four Levels ◽

Attention Process Training

AbstractPersons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) often present with discourse-level deficits that affect functional communication. These deficits are not thought to be primarily linguistic in nature but instead are thought to arise from the interaction of linguistic and cognitive processes. Discourse processing treatment (DPT) is a discourse-based treatment protocol which targets discourse deficits frequently seen in TBI. Attention Process Training-2 (APT-2) is a published treatment protocol which targets four levels of attention. The purpose of this article is to investigate the effectiveness of DPT and APT-2 in improving discourse production and cognition in adults with TBI. Our results suggest that DPT results in greater improvement in discourse informativeness and coherence, but the combination of DPT and APT-2 resulted in greater generalization to untrained stimuli. Both DPT and APT-2 appear to have some potential to improve cognition, but there was intersubject variability with regard to which treatment is more effective.

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Investigating music-based cognitive rehabilitation for individuals with moderate to severe chronic acquired brain injury: A feasibility experiment

Neurorehabilitation ◽

10.3233/nre-208015 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Cheryl Jones ◽

Nicole Richard ◽

Michael Thaut

Keyword(s):

Brain Injury ◽

Cognitive Rehabilitation ◽

Brain Injuries ◽

Acquired Brain Injury ◽

Preliminary Evidence ◽

Control Group ◽

Digit Symbol ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Post Test ◽

Attention Process Training

BACKGROUND: Acquired brain injuries often cause cognitive impairment, significantly impacting participation in rehabilitation and activities of daily living. Music can influence brain function, and thus may serve as a uniquely powerful cognitive rehabilitation intervention. OBJECTIVE: This feasibility study investigated the potential effectiveness of music-based cognitive rehabilitation for adults with chronic acquired brain injury. METHODS: The control group participated in three Attention Process Training (APT) sessions, while the experimental group participated in three Music Attention Control Training (MACT) sessions. Pre-and post- testing used the Trail Making A & B, Digit Symbol, and Brown-Peterson Task as neuropsychological tests. RESULTS: ANOVA analyses showed no significant difference between groups for Trail A Test, Digit Symbol, and Brown-Peterson Task. Trail B showed significant differences at post-test favouring MACT over APT. The mean difference time between pre-and post-tests for the Trail B Test was also significantly different between APT and MACT in favour of MACT using a two-sample t-test as well as a follow-up nonparametric Mann Whitney U-test. CONCLUSIONS: The group differences found in the Trail B tests provided preliminary evidence for the efficacy of MACT to arouse and engage attention in adults with acquired brain injury.

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Effectiveness of Attention Training after an Acquired-Brain Injury: A Meta-analysis of Rehabilitation Studies

Brain and Cognition ◽

10.1016/s0278-2626(20)30177-9 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 44 (1) ◽

pp. 5-9

Author(s):

N.W. Park ◽

J.L. Ingles

Keyword(s):

Brain Injury ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Acquired Brain Injury ◽

Attention Training

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Rehabilitation of attention in two patients with traumatic brain injury by means of ‘attention process training’

Brain Injury ◽

10.1080/02699050600983271 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 20 (11) ◽

pp. 1207-1219 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Sergio Pero ◽

Chiara Incoccia ◽

Barbara Caracciolo ◽

Pierluigi Zoccolotti ◽

Rita Formisano

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Attention Process ◽

Attention Process Training

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Who Will Benefit from Early Targeted Attention Training After Acquired Brain Injury? Early Attention Assessment as Predictor of Intervention Outcome

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation ◽

10.1016/j.apmr.2020.09.132 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 101 (11) ◽

pp. e45

Author(s):

Gabriela Markovic ◽

Mattias Elg ◽

Aniko Bartfai

Keyword(s):

Brain Injury ◽

Acquired Brain Injury ◽

Attention Training

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Training attention in children with acquired brain injury: a study protocol of a randomised controlled trial of the TALI attention training programme

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032619 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. e032619

Author(s):

Erin McKay ◽

Sally Richmond ◽

Hannah Kirk ◽

Vicki Anderson ◽

Cathy Catroppa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Brain Injury ◽

Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Acquired Brain Injury ◽

Training Programme ◽

Attention Training ◽

Children's Hospital ◽

Term Efficacy ◽

Secondary Outcomes ◽

Randomised Controlled

IntroductionChildhood inattention has been linked with poor academic outcomes, and increased lifetime social, occupational and psychiatric morbidity. Children with an acquired brain injury (ABI) are particularly susceptible to attention deficits and may benefit from interventions aimed at enhancing attention. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the short-term efficacy of the TALI Train programme, compared with a placebo, on the outcome of attention in children with ABI.Methods and analysisThe study is a parallel, double-blind, randomised controlled trial. Participants will consist of 80 children with a diagnosis of ABI aged 4–9 years 11 months. Participants will be randomly allocated to either (1) TALI Train (intervention group), an adaptive game-based attention training programme, or (2) a non-adaptive placebo programme (control group). Both programmes are delivered on a touchscreen tablet, and children complete five 20 min sessions per week for a 5-week period at home. Assessment of selective, sustained and executive attention (primary outcomes), and behavioural attention, working memory, social skills and mathematics ability (secondary outcomes) will occur at baseline, post-training, and at 3-month and 6-month follow-up to assess immediate and long-term efficacy of TALI Train compared with placebo. Assessments will be completed at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. All assessments and analyses will be undertaken by researchers blinded to group membership. Latent growth curve modelling will be employed to examine primary and secondary outcomes.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval has been obtained from the Royal Children’s Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) (38132) and the Monash University HREC (17446). Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations, media outlets, the internet and various community/stakeholder activities.Trial registration numberACTRN12619000511134.

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