Memory failures in everyday life following severe head injury

Questions concerning the incidence of memory failures in everyday life were used in a postal survey of the aftereffects of severe head injury and a minority of severely injured patients were reported to be significantly handicapped by memory failures at this stage in their recovery.

Abstract

Questionnaires concerning the incidence of memory failures in everyday life were used in a postal survey of the aftereffects of severe head injury. Several years after a severe injury, 50 patients were compared to 33 patients a similar period after a very mild injury. A questionnaire completed on behalf of each patient by someone living in daily contact with him appeared to have some validity as a memory measure. The pattern of memory failures reported was similar to that found in a previous study and this may primarily reflect the ease with which certain forms of memory failure can be observed. A questionnaire completed by the patients themselves had little validity, possibly because severely injured patients could not recall their own memory failures. Only a minority of severely injured patients were reported to be significantly handicapped by memory failures at this stage in their recovery.