ADHD after mild TBI in children may need longer follow up – study

Children with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) may later develop ADHD, pointing to the need for longer follow-up, a study suggests.

Researchers reviewed patients seen at a paediatric concussion clinic from 2010 to 2023.

Of 284 screened cases, 86 children were included in the final analysis, split into 10 who developed secondary ADHD after injury and 76 who did not. (ADHD means attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.)

The study found no statistically significant differences between the groups in age, sex or acute symptoms such as loss of consciousness, confusion or amnesia.

This lack of early distinguishing features is clinically relevant because acute post-injury symptoms can overlap with attention and behaviour changes, complicating early identification of ADHD after mild TBI.

A key difference was follow-up duration. Children later diagnosed with secondary ADHD had significantly longer follow-up than those not diagnosed, with a median of 536 versus 132 days.

The authors interpret this as support for extended monitoring, since secondary ADHD may become apparent later rather than in the immediate post-injury window.

The investigators emphasised the exploratory nature of the work and called for larger studies to identify reliable early indicators of ADHD after mild TBI in children.