| Abstract: | Every year in the UK, a significant number of children sustain a moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Children who sustain a moderate or severe TBI have been shown to experience continuing neurological decline in two or more domains up to five years post-injury. Environmental enrichment (EE)—which involves supplementing an environment with appropriately reinforced and rewarded, frequently changing, novel experiences—has been shown to effectively improve social and cognitive functioning in animals with experimental TBI. A growing body of evidence shows EE is also beneficial in the recovery of humans following a TBI. Children who have sustained a moderate or severe TBI often return to school and the educational setting is well-suited for the implementation of EE interventions during the later stages of TBI recovery. This paper reviews a variety of factors pertinent to moderate and severe TBI, neurorehabilitation and EE. It also offers EE considerations for educational professionals who are involved in the development and implementation of school-based interventions for children who have sustained a significant brain injury. |
