How Do You Know if Your Child Suffers a Brain Injury?

Kids say the darndest things. Young children seem to have a knack for picking up the smallest details and repeating them at the worst possible time. Often, it’s a simple misunderstanding – kids just don’t have the communication skills to say exactly what they mean and don’t understand the power of language.

Unfortunately, this can make it hard to figure out when something is wrong. This puts parents at a disadvantage when their children suffer a significant injury, like a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Even a mild concussion can present with a symptom known as aphasia, which can affect verbal and written communication.

Aphasia isn’t a condition in and of itself; rather, it’s an indication or symptom of another, underlying health issue. Per the Mayo Clinic, aphasia may cause TBI sufferers to:

• Speak in short or incomplete sentences
• Speak in sentences that don't make sense
• Substitute one word for another or one sound for another
• Speak unrecognizable words
• Not understand other people's conversation
• Write sentences that don't make sense

The problem, of course, is that toddlers and young children do most of these things every day. As speech is learned, children try out new word combinations and ways of communicating. It’s common for parents to attribute any of the symptoms above to “kids being kids.”

How can parents confirm their young child sustained a TBI?

More serious brain injuries present with more symptoms, and in some cases are easier to detect. However, even serious TBI may initially present with mild symptoms. Missing the symptoms of a TBI is easy in young children. That’s why it’s so important know how you can identify the signs and symptoms of TBI.

Confirming a traumatic brain injury can only be done with imaging tests like a computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These tests quickly and accurately provide medical professionals with detailed views of the brain. This allows medical professionals to “…quickly visualize fractures and uncover evidence of bleeding in the brain (hemorrhage), blood clots (hematomas), bruised brain tissue (contusions), and brain tissue swelling,” according to the Mayo Clinic.

However, the very first thing parents can do – before any tests are given, even – is to determine whether an incident occurred. That may seem simplistic, but as parents of young children know all too well, simply getting the straight facts from a young child can make a root canal look enjoyable. To illustrate this, let’s look at two scenarios. In the first, your child comes running into the house holding their head and crying because they fell. In the second, your child comes home and describes a fairly dangerous activity but doesn’t mention any falls or injuries.

In both cases, it’s important to evaluate your child and monitor them closely. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDCs) HEADS UP Brain Injury Basics is an excellent resource for information and safety tips to identify and prevent TBI. The following lists from the CDC contain extremely useful tools for parents with children of any age:

Concussion Signs Observed

[what parents see]

• Can’t recall events prior to or after a hit or fall.
• Appears dazed or stunned.
• Forgets an instruction, is confused about an assignment or position, or is unsure of the game, score, or opponent.
• Moves clumsily.
• Answers questions slowly.
• Loses consciousness (even briefly).
• Shows mood, behavior, or personality changes.

Concussion Symptoms Reported

[what children say]

• Headache or “pressure” in head.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Balance problems or dizziness, or double or blurry vision.
• Bothered by light or noise.
• Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy.
• Confusion, or concentration or memory problems.
• Just not “feeling right,” or “feeling down.”

Of course, identifying a potential TBI is only the first step. Traumatic brain injuries are serious medical conditions that can have lifelong consequences. When dealing with brain injuries, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Time plays a critical factor in brain injuries; if your child seems even a little “off” after a fall or blow, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately.

Can you fully recover from a TBI?

In some cases, yes, a full recovery from a TBI is possible thanks to a concept known as “neuroplasticity.” Simply put, the human brain has an amazing ability to make new connections between synapses and reorganize how tasks are performed. This process occurs all the time when we’re learning but can also happen in response to injury.

You should know that neuroplasticity has its limits; in severe cases, it may be that the brain is simply too damaged in too many places to recover. Recovering from a TBI is different for every person and every injury; the prognosis depends on the injury, and the general rule is that recovery times and odds are linked to the extent of the damage. Mild TBIs can resolve in few days, whereas more severe TBIs can take years of rehabilitation and therapy, and full recovery may be impossible.

However, young children have another advantage over adults when it comes to recovering from a traumatic brain injury- they’re young. Children heal much more quickly than adults because their bodies are constantly putting out new materials as they grow. The CDC tells us:

While most children and teens with a concussion feel better within a couple of weeks, some will have symptoms for months or longer. Talk with your children’s or teens’ health care provider if their concussion symptoms do not go away or if they get worse after they return to their regular activities…

There are many people who can help you and your family as your child or teen recovers. You do not have to do it alone. Keep talking with your medical provider, family members, and loved ones about how your child or teen is feeling. If you do not think he or she is getting better, tell your medical provider.

When it comes to TBIs in children, the most important thing is to stay vigilant and understand the signs and symptoms. If you think your child has suffered a TBI, seek professional medical attention immediately. As you find out the details, make sure to document as many details as you can- this information will help your child’s medical team to accurately diagnose and appropriately treat a TBI. If you find out that your child suffered a TBI because of someone else’s negligence, this information will also help you to recover medical damages in court.

Rocky McElhaney Law Firm is dedicated to protecting you and your family when you’ve suffered medical injuries and the resulting financial damages. To schedule a free initial consultation at one of our offices in Nashville, Hendersonville, or Clarksville, please call 615-425-2500 or fill out our contact form.

Related Content:

• How Do You Know if Your Child Suffers a Brain Injury?
• New Tennessee Law Requires DUI Offenders to Pay Child Support