“What will my child be like ten years from now?” That is a question that parents who have a child with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) want answers to. Researchers from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center have some idea of the long-term effects of a TBI on children.
According to the researchers, attention problems are two times more likely in children who have experienced a mild to moderate brain injury. Those children who have suffered a severe brain injury are more likely to develop attention deficit hyperactivity disorder — five times more likely.The attention problems, the researchers have found, are influenced by the family environment.
Children who have mild to moderate brain injuries and who live in chaotic or disadvantaged homes often seem to have persistent problems with attention. Children who are in optimal environments and who have serious TBIs show fewer effects of their injuries overall. The researchers suggest that a child’s positive long-term outcome from a TBI is related to effective parenting.
A series of trials has shown that online family problem-solving treatment has helped reduce problems with behavior in children 12 to 17 years old that have suffered TBIs. Younger children seem to have fewer behavioral problems when treated with web-based parenting skills programs. These programs are designed to improve parent-child interactions.
Overall, these types of intervention studies have shown that there could be several avenues for short- and long-term recovery after a TBI.
If your child has suffered a TBI and it was caused by someone else’s negligent action, you have a right to seek compensation. An experienced attorney can help you learn more about your legal options.
Source: Science Daily, “Studies uncover long-term effects of traumatic brain injury,” accessed July 28, 2017
