Do you suspect that your child could have a brain injury that might be linked to a birth injury? In this blog, we review some general information about child brain injuries that every parent should know.
However, it is important to note that this blog is not medical advice and should not be taken as a substitute for a professional evaluation. Only a qualified medical expert can assess, diagnose, and treat a brain injury.
Why Brain Damage in Children Can Be Difficult to Detect
Unlike some obvious physical injuries, brain damage related to a birth injury may not always be noticeable immediately. In many cases, the effects only become clear as a child grows and fails to meet developmental milestones.
Several factors make detection challenging:
- Subtlety of symptoms: Some signs, such as irritability or feeding difficulties, may be mistaken for normal infant behavior.
- Delayed development: Certain neurological issues only emerge once a child begins to learn motor skills or speech.
- Variation in severity: The location and extent of brain injury can produce a wide range of symptoms, from mild delays to profound impairments.
Early Physical and Neurological Signs of Brain Damage
Some of the earliest signs that may point to brain damage in infants and young children include:
- Muscle tone abnormalities: A baby who moves unusually stiff or limp may have neurological complications.
- Feeding difficulties: Trouble eating, swallowing, or coordinating feeding can sometimes signal brain-related issues.
- Seizures or tremors: Unexplained shaking or seizure activity in a newborn is a serious warning sign.
- Reflex issues: Delayed or absent reflexes, such as the Moro (startle) reflex, may indicate neurological problems.
- Movement control problems: Difficulty with coordination or trouble moving certain parts of the body.
Developmental and Behavioral Indicators
As infants grow, parents may notice additional concerns that point to a possible brain injury:
- Motor skill delays: Struggling to roll over, crawl, or walk when expected.
- Language delays: Late development of speech or difficulty forming words compared to peers.
- Behavioral patterns: Excessive fussiness, irritability, or unusual sleep disturbances.
- Social interaction challenges: Difficulty making eye contact, engaging, or responding to typical stimuli.
While these signs can sometimes be linked to other medical or developmental conditions, they are important enough to warrant medical evaluation.
Getting Medical Evaluation & Treatment
If parents suspect their child has an undiagnosed brain injury, seeking immediate medical attention is the most important step. Pediatricians and neurologists can perform imaging tests, developmental assessments, and other evaluations to determine whether brain damage is present.
Early diagnosis is important because:
- Early intervention matters: Different therapies and treatments can significantly improve outcomes if they begin as soon as possible.
- Treatment planning helps families prepare: Doctors can create a care plan tailored to the child’s needs, and families can use that to start planning what their day-to-day lives might look like during the recovery period.
- Support services may be available: Educational and community programs can sometimes provide assistance to the families of young children with brain injuries, such as special education classes.
Is Your Child’s Brain Injury Related to Medical Errors? Call Now
Recognizing potential signs of brain damage in a child is not simple. If you suspect that something is wrong, the most important step is to have your child evaluated by a qualified medical professional. If a doctor determines that a brain injury may have been linked to mistakes during labor or delivery, you may also want to explore your legal options with a birth injury attorney.
Decof, Mega & Quinn, P.C. in Rhode Island has extensive experience handling birth injury cases, including those that involve brain damage. If you suspect your child’s condition may be the result of medical negligence, we want to help you explore your legal options, which could include filing an injury claim against the medical team that delivered or treated your child. Contact our office online for a free consultation, or dial (401) 200-4059 at any time.