Head or Brain Injury in Children

“Head injury” is a broad term relating to a wide array of injuries, including those affecting the scalp, brain, skull, and surrounding nerve and tissue. Head injury, brain injury, and traumatic brain injury may all be used interchangeably, but TBI (traumatic brain injury) is generally used in more severe cases. Whatever words used to describe it, brain injury in children is a serious matter.

Head or brain injuries are leading causes for disability or death in children. Injuries in children can be as minimal as a cut on the head or a bump as the result of a fall while playing. However, they can also be as serious as skull fracture or internal bleeding to the brain in more severe traumatic brain injury cases. Because brain injury is life-threatening—and often accidental—understanding the signs, symptoms, and treatment processes related to brain injury are important for any parent or child care-giver to know.

If you are concerned that your child (or another child you know) may be suffering from a brain injury due to a motor vehicle collision, fall, sports-related or other accident, here are some signs and symptoms to look for:

“Mild”* Head Injury

• Headache
• Irritability and confusion
• Swollen area from a bump or a bruise
• Small cut in the scalp
• Nausea or dizziness
• Sensitivity to noise and/or light
• Inability to concentrate
• Blurred vision
• Change in sleeping patterns
• Fatigue

* Note: An injury is generally considered mild when the person sustains no loss of consciousness or a very brief period of altered consciousness. However, the degree or presence of loss of consciousness does not necessarily have a direct correlation with the long-term effects resulting from the brain injury. Certain individuals, either as a result of the nature of the injury to the brain, genetic makeup, or preexisting conditions, may sustain devastating impairments from even a “minor” traumatic brain injury. The degree of brain injury refers only to the acute phase and the length and presence of any loss of consciousness, and not to the long-term impact that the injury may have on the person’s ability to function.

Moderate to Severe Head Injury

In the case of a more serious brain injury, check for the above symptoms as well as the following:

• Severe and lasting headache
• Loss of consciousness
• Sweating
• Difficulty walking
• Slurred speech
• Seizures
• Pale color
• Bloody nose
• Deep cuts or contusions on the head

Even if your child sustains no loss of consciousness, a brain injury could be present. If an injury is suspected for any reason, it is always safe and smart to seek medical treatment from a physician.

David Dwork is a Boston MA based attorney focused on defending survivors of traumatic brain injuries. If you have questions regarding brain injury and your legal rights, please contact David Dwork at 617-620-0857 or dpdlegal@comcast.net