Kids are active in sports and other activities. High levels of activity inevitably lead to injuries. Cuts, bruises and broken bones are common during childhood, but so are concussions and other forms of head trauma. Because their brains are still growing, kids are prone to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and the effects of them.
What Studies Show
Those who suffer a TBI as an adult may have better outcomes because by that point, the brain is fully grown. We tend to think of children as little adults, but that’s simply not true, especially when it comes to brain growth and development.
A study of 1.1 million Swedish people born between 1973 and 1982 showed that those who had suffered a TBI within the first 25 years of life—approximately 9 percent of the population—were less likely to graduate from high school and more likely to be treated for a psychiatric illness or die early. In addition, the more TBIs a person had suffered or the more severe the TBI, the more likely the child was to experience worsened outcomes.
A concussion is a mild form of TBI, but even a mild head injury can result in a 52 percent increased risk of negative outcomes. The highest risks are developing a disability and receiving a pension and being hospitalized in a psychiatric ward, but early death and learning difficulties are still also risks.
TBI Effects and Recovery in Children
TBI can affect anyone of any age, but children ages 0-4 and 15-19 have the highest risk. Of those ages 0-19, 564,000 visit an emergency room for TBI treatment and are released. Another 62,000 are hospitalized.
While children are resilient in many ways, a brain injury is an exception. Children’s brains are always growing, and an injury can cause numerous cognitive impairments that can affect them for a lifetime.
Children with TBIs may have difficulties with speech, hearing, vision, balance, concentration, reading, writing, judgment, self-esteem, motivation and emotions. They may also suffer from headaches, fatigue, memory problems, anxiety, depression, seizures or paralysis.
In some cases, children experience delayed effects of a TBI. They may act normally and then experience a sudden decline several years later. This is called a neurocognitive stall and can present challenges for victims and their families. Educational and emotional needs will be different for children who have suffered a TBI and parents need to be prepared. The road to recovery can last many years—even a lifetime.
Get Legal Help for Your Personal Injury Case
A traumatic brain injury can affect your child well into adulthood. Not only are there physical and cognitive effects to deal with, but also financial implications. Brain trauma can cost millions of dollars to medically treat.
If your child suffered a TBI through the negligence of a third party, get legal help from the Miami personal injury attorneys at the law offices of Dolan Dobrinsky Rosenblum Bluestein, LLP. Financial compensation can help alleviate the stress of dealing with such a medical issue. Request a free consultation by calling our law offices today at 305-371-2692.