Rehabilitation in Children with Disorder of Consciousness

Purpose of ReviewConsciousness is a state of wakefulness with awareness of self and the environment. Disorder of consciousness (DOC) can result from any type of acquired brain injury (ABI). While children with ABI and DOC are commonly encountered in pediatric rehabilitation settings, research in this population is lacking, necessitating extrapolation from adult literature.Recent FindingsAdults and children with DOC who participate in specialized inpatient rehabilitation programs show functional gains during and following the inpatient admission. Here, we present a model for an interdisciplinary rehabilitation program for children with DOC along with data supporting the evaluation and management approaches, where available.SummaryCareful, interdisciplinary assessment using appropriate tools as well as a range of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions supports the rehabilitation and recovery of children with DOC. Additional research focused on children with DOC will be crucial for enhancing the evidence related to this population.