The prognosis of 12 children (11 boys, 1 girl) with diffuse axonal injury (DAI) were investigated in this study. The cause of injuries was traffic accident in all cases. The ages of children at the injured episode were between 2 to 13 years, and the severity of DAI was classified as follows; mild type 1 case, moderate type 3 cases, and severe type 8 cases. Ten cases showed physical disabilities such as ataxia 5 cases, hemiplegia 4 cases, and two cases were associated with spinal cord injury. All of the cases showed mental disabilities, i. e., higher cortical dysfunction 12 cases, mental retardation 3 cases and others. Intelligence quotient (IQ) and functional independence measure (FIM) improved rapidly in the first year after the injury. At present, average IQ was 81.8, and average FIM score was 104. All cases, however, still complained some school life problems such as learning difficulties 10 cases, attention deficit 5 cases, interpersonal problems 3 cases. There were many trials to treat their problems; supplementary lessons, outpatients' rehabilitation training, changing the classes from ordinary to special ones, reconstructions of school buildings etc. It is important for the children with DAI to be educated with special programs considering the higher cortical dysfunction and to be cared under cooperation among rehabilitation centers, schools and their homes
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