Executive Functioning
All BRIEF mean T-scores were in the normal range (Table 2), although scores ranged from within the normal range to the impaired range across most scales. No significant relationship (p ≥ 0.10) was found between the Global Executive Composite, Behavioral Regulation or Metacognition indices and the following variables: age at baseline, gender, histology, hydrocephalus at diagnosis, history of surgical resection, location of tumor, radiation field, treatment with chemotherapy, SES, or the time interval between baseline and follow-up.
There were no significant differences between age by radiation field groups and the Global Executive Composite (p = 0.39), Behavioral Regulation Index (p = 0.59) or Metacognition (p = 0.40) mean T-scores. That is, younger and older age groups who received CSI or focal PRT did not significantly differ in executive functioning skills at follow-up.
Compared to the normative mean, significantly elevated mean scores were found on the Metacognition (p = 0.003), Initiate (p = 0.001), Working Memory (p < 0.001), and Plan/Organize (p = 0.007) scales. In contrast, mean scores were significantly better than expectation on the Inhibit scale (p = 0.001) and Behavioral Regulation Index (p = 0.019). Mean scores were at or near the normative mean on the remaining clinical scales.
Rate of impairment on the Behavioral Regulation Index for the total sample was similar to expected rates in the general population. In contrast, scales assessing metacognitive skills, namely Metacognition, Initiate, Working Memory, and Plan/ Organize, exceeded expectations. There was no significant difference (p > 0.10) between the rates of impairment and the two age groups on any BRIEF scale, although the younger group had a slightly greater percentage of overall executive functioning difficulties than the older group (Global Executive Composite 17.9% vs. 13.3%). Rates of impairment were slightly higher in the younger age group treated with CSI compared to focal PRT for Global Executive Composite (4/19, 21.1% vs. 8/48, 16.7%).