Applying Speed of Processing Training to Individuals With Traumatic Brain Injury

This pilot study will document the efficacy of a behavioral intervention for Processing
Speed (PS) in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Speed of Processing Training (SPT), which has
been successful used in the aging population in several studies. This study will (1) apply a
treatment protocol for PS impairments, well-validated in aging, to persons with TBI with
impaired PS, and document its efficacy on standard neuropsychological (NP) tests (2) assess
the effectiveness of the intervention utilizing global measures of daily life, including an
objective measure (TIADL) (3) examine the long term impact of SPT. This study is unique in
that it will be the first to evaluate the efficacy of a highly-manualized structured
behavioral treatment for processing speed deficits in persons with TBI utilizing the optimal
methodology for carrying out such studies, a randomized clinical trial. Given the prevalence
of PS deficits in the TBI population and the significant impact such deficits have on
everyday functioning, public safety, and overall quality of life, the identification of an
effective intervention for PS deficits in TBI could have a profound impact on the population
and society as a whole.