When children sustain a traumatic brain injury, the results can be devastating. The developing brain is extremely delicate, and TBIs can have a significant impact on nearly every aspect of a child’s life. Some of the more common ways a TBI can affect a child are discussed below.
Educational Delays and Complications
Even a mild TBI like a concussion can keep a child from attending school for weeks or even months in some cases. Brain injuries often require rest as an important part of a treatment program - and that can include both physical and cognitive rest. Children who miss a substantial amount of schoolwork may fall behind, may have to take summer or remedial classes, or may even have to repeat a grade. Parents may have to pay for tutors or home instructors to keep their child up to date in school during TBI recovery. Simply because a child is cleared to attend school does not mean that the challenges end there. Lingering effects of TBIs can cause many problems at school, including struggles with the following:- Timed tests and assignments
- Reading aloud in class
- Focus and concentration
- Following instructions
- Communicating thoughts verbally or orally
- Handling group social situations