Neuropsychological recovery in head injury.

Recovery of neuropsychological functions was studied in a group of adults with mild to severe head injuries. The subjects were first examined when alert and then 12 and 18 months following their first testing. The results support the following conclusions: (1) a broad range of early deficits occur representing the diversity of behavioral performances dependent on the brain; (2) improvement following losses occurs in complex as well as in simple neuropsychological functions; (3) on the basis of information available, conclusions regarding when recovery slows are premature; and most important, (4) the degree of initial deficit is a significant determinant of the subsequent amount of recovery and the residual deficits.