Traumatic Brain Injuries Alter How Children Interact With Parents
Two percent of children under the age of five have suffered from a concussion. That’s 1 out of 50 who have experienced a traumatic brain injury as a result of a slip and fall, car wreck, or other injury. Aside from affecting the child’s ability to perform everyday functions and learn, traumatic brain injuries also alter how the child interacts with his or her parents. We’ve discussed what traumatic brain injuries are in the past; today we want to focus on how these personal injuries can affect your child’s relationship and interactions with you and your family.
Emotional and Behavioral Changes
A child’s behavior and emotions can change considerably after a concussion. Below are some examples we’ve seen in our years representing Georgia children with brain injuries:
- A child can act out when he becomes frustrated because they cannot remember things as well as they did before;
- The child’s attention span can be limited, so they can have difficulties focusing in general or on certain tasks;
- Loss of self-awareness can occur: A child cannot or does not realize they cannot do some things they were once able to do before an injury. For example, they may have lost their “filter,” so they speak without thinking, which hurts you or their siblings as a result;
- A child suffering from a traumatic brain injury can be diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after a car accident. They may now have panic attacks or become triggered by certain situations they were once comfortable in; and
- Depression and anxiety are common in children with brain injuries. These disorders can manifest themselves through aggression, isolation, or increased irritability.
Effects on Family
While the behavioral changes of the injured child have the most impact on family dynamics, there are other factors and considerations as well. External stressors, such as medical bills and therapy, cause parents to become increasingly irritable or frustrated. If a child’s brain injury is severe and requires constant attention, then siblings may feel left out or unloved. If the parents or siblings were involved in the same accident as the injured child but were not injured themselves, they could suffer from survivor’s guilt.
It’s important to note that regardless of any effects this injury has on your family, you are not at fault for these changes; someone else caused this to happen to your child. All of these effects and changes are normal, and there is no shame in having any of these thoughts or feelings.
Treatment Options
A traumatic brain injury, whether mild or severe, takes an extreme toll on a family. The injured child, parents, and family members suffer differently due to the increased stress or needs placed on them. Should your child exhibit behavioral changes lasting longer than a few weeks, consider professional counseling. Family therapy may also be beneficial to minimize the effects of the brain injury on your loved ones.
Contact Us
We hope you never have to deal with the emotional stress of having a brain injured child. However, if you or a loved one needs assistance, our experienced Georgia personal injury attorneys are here to help. To schedule your free consultation at our Kennesaw office, please call Joel Williams at 833-LEGALGA. If you are unable to come to us, we can come to you.