Neuropsychological functioning following a spinal cord injury

Studles lndlcate that 1040% of the splnal cord Injury (SCI) population retalns resldual cognrtlve deflclts following the Injury However, prevlous studles have not used a comprehensive neuropsycholog~cal battery and/or a well-matched control group In addltlon, no study has determined if cognltlve deflclts contlnue more than one year after Injury The present study addressed these Ilmltatlons by comparing the performance of a chronlc SCI group (Mean= 17 years post-lnjury) and a well-matched control group In four cognltlve areas Memory, vlsuospatlal skills, attentlon/executlve functlonlng, and processlng speed were assessed Results from a dlscrlmlnant functlon analysls lndlcated that lnformatlon processlng speed best dlfferentlated between the SCI and control groups Twenty-nlne percent of the SCI group performed 1 to 2 standard devlatlons below the control group mean These results could not be attributed to psychological status or h~story of alcohol consumption The flndlngs emphasize the Importance of neuropsycholog~cal evaluation after SCI