Language and Memory Disorders Following Closed Head Trauma

Abstract

Patients who suffer closed head trauma may demonstrate communication disorders which have been variously described as aphasia, severe memory impairments, traumatic aphasia, or confusion. The memory and language skills of 14 patients who had suffered closed head trauma were documented after they regained consciousness and at one-month intervals for four months utilizing the Porch Index of Communicative Ability and the Wechsler Memory Scale. Results indicated that patients initially suffered both reduced memory and language skills. After four months, expressive and receptive language skills were grossly functional for conversational purposes, and all memory tasks with the exception of orientation skills were within normal limits. Significant improvement in both language and memory functioning most often occurred during the first month after regaining consciousness, although gradual improvement in both language and memory skills was noted beyond the one-month period. No significant correlations existed between the length of unconsciousness and the initial and final language and memory scores.