[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.dsslaw.com\/blog\/seven-things-every-parent-know-kids-brain-injuries\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.dsslaw.com\/blog\/seven-things-every-parent-know-kids-brain-injuries\/","headline":"Seven Things Every Parent Should Know About Their Kids and Brain Injuries","name":"Seven Things Every Parent Should Know About Their Kids and Brain Injuries","description":"Many children in New Jersey suffer head injuries when they are involved in falls, car crashes and other types of accidents. These head injuries may cause concussions and other types of\u00a0traumatic brain injury\u00a0(TBI). The\u00a0Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u00a0(CDC) reports that\u00a0 TBI can result from any type of bump, blow...","datePublished":"2017-04-24","dateModified":"2024-07-18","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.dsslaw.com\/blog\/author\/dsslaw\/#Person","name":"Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C.","url":"https:\/\/www.dsslaw.com\/blog\/author\/dsslaw\/","identifier":12,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/645d493126a7be6f90be911a6e7d4382c0cd63874673097832081394c8bcf8ab?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/645d493126a7be6f90be911a6e7d4382c0cd63874673097832081394c8bcf8ab?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C.","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.dsslaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/bg-logo.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.dsslaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/bg-logo.jpg","width":192,"height":90}},"url":"https:\/\/www.dsslaw.com\/blog\/seven-things-every-parent-know-kids-brain-injuries\/","about":["Traumatic Brain Injury"],"wordCount":906,"articleBody":"Many children in New Jersey suffer head injuries when they are involved in falls, car crashes and other types of accidents. These head injuries may cause concussions and other types of\u00a0traumatic brain injury\u00a0(TBI).The\u00a0Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u00a0(CDC) reports that\u00a0 TBI can result from any type of bump, blow or jolt to the head that disrupts normal brain functioning. Mild TBI can lead to a brief change in mental state or consciousness. Severe TBI can involve prolonged loss of consciousness and loss of memory.The\u00a0Brain Injury Association of America\u00a0(BIA) reports that hospital emergency rooms treat close to 600,000 new cases of traumatic brain injury in children each year. Roughly 62,000 children under the age of 19 suffer TBI that is severe enough to require hospitalization.As you can see, TBI is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening condition. However, if you don\u2019t know the signs of TBI, you may be unable to detect that your child is suffering from this condition after he or she has been involved in an accident.Here, we discuss seven things that parents should know about TBI and children:1. Accidents are common causes of TBI in children.The CDC reports that the most common causes of TBI in children are:Motor vehicle accidents\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Car crashes are the leading cause of TBI-related deaths among children ages 4 and older.Falls\u00a0\u2013\u00a0These accidents can occur on playground equipment, wet and slippery floors and stairs that lack handrails. They are the leading cause of TBI-related injuries among most age groups, including children.Being struck by or against an object \u2013\u00a0This is the leading cause of TBI in children ages 15 to 18. These incidents can occur due to faulty fixtures or shelving in public places.Accidents involving sports and recreational activities \u2013\u00a0TBI can occur among children engaged in school sports and recreational programs, including activities such football, softball, soccer, swimming and lacrosse.Violent assaults \u2013\u00a0TBI can result from domestic violence as well as from school bullying and other physical confrontations with peers.2. If you suspect a child head injury, seek immediate medical attention.If your child suffers a bump or blow to the head, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.\u00a0The Mayo Clinic\u00a0reports that TBI carries a wide range of physical and psychological effects.Symptoms may not appear until days or weeks after the injury occurs. Those symptoms include:Severe headachesNausea or vomitingDizziness and loss of balanceExcessive sleepiness and inability to stay awakeImpaired vision and hearingBeing unable to remember details of the accidentIrritability and mood swingsDepressionBurst of anger or rage.3. Traumatic brain injuries in children can impact their physical health and emotional development.Brain injuries can cause temporary impairments or long-lasting disabilities that affect a child\u2019s future development, the BIA reports.Some of the common effects of TBI in children are:Physical impairments \u2013\u00a0Loss of balance, seizure disorders or partial paralysisCognitive impairments \u2013\u00a0Limited attention span, poor reading comprehension or communication skills and impaired judgmentEmotional impairments \u2013\u00a0Difficulty controlling emotions, low motivation and increased self-centeredness.4. A child needs proper rehabilitation to recover from TBI.Symptoms of TBI are often the same for children as for adults, the BIA states. However, the impact of TBI on children is often more severe.You should consult with your child\u2019s school to develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to address your child\u2019s needs. You should also explore a wide range of rehabilitation services such as:Physical therapySpeech-language therapyOccupational therapy.Ask your doctor about rehabilitation for your child. If you believe that your child\u2019s needs are going unmet, you should seek a second opinion.5. Children should be cleared by a doctor before they return to sports or other activities after a head injury.The CDC\u2019s\u00a0Heads Up\u00a0program raises awareness about what parents should know about concussions due to sports injuries. The CDC also describes the responsibilities of schools, coaches and recreational staff when it comes to preventing TBI and responding to brain injuries.A coach or trainer should immediately remove a child from play if the child suffers a suspected head injury. The child should not return to action until cleared by a doctor.If a coach or trainer fails to follow these guidelines, the child could suffer severe health complications.6. Parents, teachers and coaches can prevent child head injuries by using proper safety equipment.Helmets are the first line of defense against head injuries. Your child should always wear a helmet while biking, skateboarding, riding a scooter, driving a motorized bike or playing contact sports.The CDC provides\u00a0guidelines\u00a0for different types of helmets that children should wear when engaged in different activities. According to the CDC, any helmet worn by a child should:Fit snugly and be age-appropriateBe in good condition and well-maintainedBe worn consistently and correctlyBe certified for use by an accredited organization.7. A lawyer can help you to seek compensation if your child suffered injuries in an accident caused by another.If your child\u2019s brain injury resulted from the negligence of another, the child\u2019s current and future medical expenses could be among the damages sought in a\u00a0personal injury\u00a0claim.Contact Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., to discuss the specific facts of your case. Our New Jersey personal injury attorneys will advocate aggressively on your behalf and pursue the financial recovery that your child and your family deserve."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.dsslaw.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Seven Things Every Parent Should Know About Their Kids and Brain Injuries","item":"https:\/\/www.dsslaw.com\/blog\/seven-things-every-parent-know-kids-brain-injuries\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]