June 9, 2016 | Brain and Spinal Injury
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of disability and death in children and adolescents in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1], the two age groups at greatest risk for TBI are age 0-4 and 15-19.
Among those ages 0 to 19, each year an average of:
-62,000 children sustain brain injuries requiring hospitalization as a result of motor vehicle crashes, falls, sports injuries and other causes.
-564,000 children are seen in hospital emergency departments for TBI and released.
Among children ages 0 to 14 years, TBI results in an estimated in:
-2,685 deaths
-37,000 hospitalizations
-435,000 emergency department visits.
Symptoms of TBI in Indianapolis Children
A child or adolescent who has sustained a traumatic brain injury can suffer from a variety of symptoms including:
-Problems with speech, vision or hearing
-Short-term memory deficits
-Mood swings
-Headaches
-Motor coordination problems
-Depression or anxiety
-Fatigue
-Vomiting
How does TBI in Indianapolis Children Compare to TBI in Indianapolis Adults?
While the symptoms of a brain injury in Indianapolis children are similar to the symptoms experienced by Indianapolis adults, the functional impact[2] can be very different. Children are not little adults. The brain of a child is continuing to develop. The assumption used to be a child with a brain injury would recover better than an adult because there was more “plasticity” in a younger brain. More recent research has shown that this is not the case. A brain injury actually has a more devastating impact on a child than an injury of the same severity has on a mature adult. The cognitive impairments of children may not be immediately obvious after the injury but may become apparent as the child gets older and faces increased cognitive and social expectations for new learning and more complex, socially appropriate behavior. These delayed effects can create lifetime challenges for children. However, the greatest challenges many children with brain injury face are changes in their abilities to think and learn and to develop socially appropriate behaviors.
Common deficits after brain injury include difficulty in processing information, impaired judgment, and reasoning. When an adult is injured, these deficits can become apparent in the months following the injury. For a child, it may be years before the deficits from the injury become apparent.
Prevention of TBI in Children
To reduce the risk of children sustaining a TBI parents, teachers, and other individuals should make sure that children:
-Wear a seat belt every time they ride in a motor vehicle.
-Are buckled into the car using a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt according to the child’s height, weight, and age. Children should start using a booster seat when they outgrow their child safety seats, usually when they weigh about 40 pounds. Children should continue to ride in a booster seat until the lap/shoulder belts in the car fit properly, typically when they are approximately 4’9″ tall.
-Wear helmets that are fitted properly.
-Use the right protective sports equipment and make sure it is maintained properly.
Contact an Indianapolis Brain Injury Attorney
If a child in your life has sustained a brain injury from an auto or another type of accident, it is important to speak to an experienced Indianapolis brain injury lawyer. At the Fountain Law Firm, P.C., Merry Fountain has helped many victims obtain the recovery they deserve for their injuries and related losses including lost wages, medical expenses as well as pain and suffering. Indianapolis child brain injury lawyer Merry Fountain is an experienced lawyer who is ready to help you today by meeting in her office or in your home if necessary so that you can care for your child. Call Merry Fountain anytime at 1-888-242-HURT (4878) for a free consultation.