Identification and Expression of Themes Depicted in Visual Scene and Grid Displays by Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury.

Purpose The study purpose was to compare the speed and accuracy with which people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) identified themes depicted in visual scene and grid displays. Additionally, we compared the verbal responses associated with the 2 display types to determine whether adults with TBI tended to produce more action or naming messages. Method Thirteen adults with and 13 without TBI viewed grid and visual scene displays matched for content and theme. They then provided verbal responses stating the theme or central idea of each image. Results Although no significant differences were noted between groups for theme identification accuracy, adults with TBI required significantly more time than adults without TBI to process both display types. Both participant groups more rapidly and accurately identified visual scenes than grid displays. Additionally, participants with and without TBI produced more action messages in response to visual scenes and naming messages in response to grid displays. Conclusions This investigation provides preliminary evidence that themes that depicted visual scenes maybe more rapidly and accurately identified than those depicted in grid displays. Additionally, visual scenes may more effectively represent action messages, and grids may more effectively represent naming messages for people with TBI.