Information for parents of children with traumatic brain injuries
About 500,000 children a year are treated for traumatic brain injuries (TBI) across the country. This means that children make up 35% of the total number of TBIs treated each year. This initial figure does not even include the number of children who have died as a result of TBI.
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to the brain caused by a blow, bump, jolt, or penetrating impact to the head that disrupts normal brain functions. This interruption can lead to periods of unconsciousness, dizziness, vomiting, mental disabilities, physical disabilities, or even death. Traumatic brain injuries range in severity from “mild,” such as a concussion, to “serious.” A TBI is not something that occurs at birth or is experienced before the child is born. TBIs can be caused by falls, accidents, or assaults.
A brain injury causes the brain to work differently, which could cause a child’s personality to change. Many children will change the way they act, move, and think, which, in most cases, will affect how well children do in school. TBI can cause significant changes in a child’s thinking and reasoning, word comprehension, memory, attention, problem solving, physical activities, vision, and hearing.
Many students who have sustained a traumatic brain injury are believed to have a learning disability, emotional disturbance, or mental retardation and are treated as if they have a learning disability. In the end, children with traumatic brain injuries may not get the education they need. Children with TBI may not seem any different from children born with a mental disability, but their understanding of their problem is very different. Many children can often remember what they were like before the injury and may have emotional problems adjusting to their new disability. Parents, friends, and teachers also have trouble adjusting to a child’s disability. Parents should consider seeking counseling or some type of therapy to learn how to deal with the changes their child is experiencing.
Parents are encouraged to find out what special education programs different schools have to offer so that the child can more easily return to public life. And always remember, TBI symptoms are not always static. Throughout a child’s life, their mental, physical, and emotional disabilities can get worse or better. Parents should always be prepared for any changes that may come along the way. It is incredibly important to stay informed about TBI because the more you know about TBI, the more you can understand and help your child.