Title : Understanding pediatric traumatic brain injury across the childhood lifespan

Background: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) during childhood can cause changes in health and behavior that a ect development, learning, self-regulation, and social participation critical skills to optimize functioning in adulthood. A TBI during childhood is associated with several  health conditions, including epilepsy, headaches,  autonomic disturbances, intellectual disability, vision problems, speech and language problems and mental health problems.

Methods: The presentation will present research about childhood TBI across the pediatric age span. Implications for taking care of children and future research will be described.

Results: Evidence suggests that TBI sustained during childhood is associated with longterm issues that have a profound e ect on children’s ability to become productive adults and strain our healthcare system and society.

Conclusion: Behavioral, cognitive, medical, and pain-related sequelae across the lifespan after TBI can persist. Although long-term studies of children are limited, emerging research demonstrates that TBI e ects can persist throughout childhood and span into adulthood.

Juliet has over 40 years of experience and multiple publications in TBI. She is Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine. Her original work started with a book titled, Head Injury Rehabilitation: Children and Adolescents. She was principal investigator of a federal longitudinal study about preschool children and a pilot study to investigate transition to adulthood in adolescents with complex medical conditions. Recently she was a Senior Health Scientist on the Traumatic Brain Injury Team, Division of Injury Prevention, CDC. She recently received the 2025 Moody Foundation award for her research and practice in TBI.