Few injuries are more devastating than traumatic brain injuries in children. A brain injury may not only hinder your child’s abilities to enjoy life but it may also seem to change your child’s personality and core identity. Parents of children with brain injuries must understand that brain injuries can have physical and behavioral consequences.
A child with a traumatic brain injury might experience symptoms such as constant fatigue, depression, anger, reduced cognitive skills, and immature or impulsive behavior. Fatigue is a common problem among children with brain injuries. Allow your child to rest, even if it seems like they should not need the rest. Keep in mind that a brain injury can cause all sorts of problems that a child may not be able to communicate. For instance, brain injuries often cause vision problems and extreme sensitivity to light. If your child throws a temper tantrum when you turn on a light, it could be because of the brain energy. After a brain injury, try to avoid forcing your child back into regular life and activities too quickly. Be patient. Your child will be ready to play and learn again as soon as the mental energy returns.
Depression is another common response to child traumatic brain injury. It’s not uncommon for the child and the parents to become depressed. Parents may experience feelings of guilt and grief. Understand that these feelings are normal, but it’s not normal if they continue for an extended period of time. Seek professional help if you suspect that you are clinically depressed. You need to be there for your child. Furthermore, some parents might direct their guilt or sadness toward others in the form of angry lashing out. This is not healthy. Try to set a good example for your children by maintaining control even in the most difficult situations.
A child traumatic brain injury may cause extreme changes in behavior. Angry outbursts may erupt as the child readjusts to life. Look for problem areas and try to help your child get past the anger. Immature behavior may appear after a brain injury, too. Keep in mind that your child may not be acting inappropriately on purpose; the behavioral changes could very well be due to the injury.
It’s also important to note that some behavioral changes may not appear immediately after the brain injury. Some changes may not appear until days or weeks after the injury. It’s important to take children to the doctor any time they experience a head injury. The injury could be worse than you suspect, especially when it comes to young children who do not have a fully developed skull.
It’s your responsibility as parent to help your child get through brain injury recovery – and that means you should seek help when you need it. If someone else was at fault for your child’s brain injury, you may be entitled to recovery. Contact a Georgia brain injury lawyer as soon as possible Call MLN Law at 404-531-9700 to schedule your free consultation.