Dr Annie Hickox’s letter (Early diagnosis of brain damage is key for recovery, 15 March) confuses the benefits of early diagnosis with the misleading notion that it is better to have your brain damage early in life. This misconception, often referred to mistakenly as the “Kennard principle”, is contrary to established clinical and experimental neuroscience from at least the early 1900s to date.
It is beyond doubt that there is an inverse relationship between age and recovery, such that the younger the age, the greater the neurological immaturity and corresponding vulnerability. Development after injury is compromised by the loss of biological capacity, and the presence of aberrant (damaged) brain structure and function.
It is essential to correct this matter to avoid perpetuating the myth that children recover better than adults simply because of their age.
David A Johnson
Clinical psychologist
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