Relationship between language comprehension and chronic neurobehavioral symptoms in adults with mild traumatic brain injury

Primary objectives: Annually, millions of Americans sustain mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI), and some may experience neurobehavioral symptoms (NBS), like slow processing speed that persist chronically or longer than 6 months post injury. In turn, cognitive processes like language comprehension may be compromised. This study investigates the relationship between NBS and language comprehension in individuals with mTBI history and low or high NBS.

Methods & procedures: Thirty-one adults with mTBI and high (n = 13; female = 11) and low (n = 18; female = 10) NBS completed a language comprehension task in speeded and unspeeded conditions. Reduced language comprehension, as measured by slower response times (RTs) and reduced accuracy, was expected to be high compared to low NBS group, regardless of condition. Language comprehension correlates (e.g. cognition and general processing speed) were also measured.

Main outcomes & results: Adults with high NBS showed reduced comprehension, measured by slower RTs in the unspeeded condition compared to low NBS. No difference in accuracy or errors produced was observed. Cognitive skills and processing speed are negatively correlated and predicted language comprehension task performance.

Conclusions: NBS and predictive factors specific to the individual are important to monitor post-mTBI, as they may affect language functioning.