September 3, 2010
There are many causes of child brain injuries, but falls account for the majority of incidents in young children. At older ages, child brain injuries more often result from sports accidents. In addition, teenagers are susceptible to brain injuries from car accidents.
Studies conducted by the Center for Disease Control have found that infant males age 0-4 experience the most instances of child brain injuries due to falls. Falling accidents account for more than 50% of child brain injuries. Blunt trauma from being struck by an object is the second most common, resulting in 25% of injuries.
Concussion is the most common type of child brain injury and accounts for about 75% of child brain injuries. Accidents such as being struck in the head by a baseball, getting hit by a car while riding a bicycle, and falling down an unguarded staircase are all situations that lead to child brain injuries.
Car accidents, whether the child is inside the vehicle or struck as a bicyclist or pedestrian, are the third most common cause of child brain injuries. Even with proper bicycle helmet use, a serious car accident may cause brain damage.
Contacting a Massachusetts Child Injury Lawyer
If your child suffered a traumatic brain injury in Massachusetts because of the negligence of another, you and/or your child may be entitled to compensation to help with medical bills and ongoing medical treatments. For more information on child injuries, order this free book, Dealing with a Nightmare: The Essential Steps to Take if Your Child Suffers a Serious Injury. The Massachusetts child injury lawyers at Kiley Law Group serve clients in the greater Boston area and will advocate for fair compensation for your child’s injuries. For a no cost evaluation of your child’s injury case, contact us today at 1-800-930-8145.
September 3, 2010
Medical advances have allowed doctors to greatly improve their imaging and testing of the human brain for damage and injury. When checking a child for diffuse axonal injury your child’s doctor may use several different testing methods. The most common is the MRI, but there are other options used to confirm the diagnosis.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): This is the most common test, and is performed using a (usually) non-invasive scanning procedure. The imaging produced shows a detailed cross-section of the brain which can be used to detect bleeding and brain tissue abnormalities.
Computed Tomography (CT) scans: These are less commonly used because they often produce a false negative result in diffuse axonal injury diagnosis. Because MRI tests show a better contrast of tissues, CT scans are not as commonly used in diagnosis.
Evoked Potentials tests: These are commonly known as BAER, SSEP, and VEP tests. These look at the visual, auditory and sensory pathways in the brain. Diffuse axonal injuries can cause damage to these pathways, so any abnormalities can point to this type of injury.
Electroencephalogram (EEG) tests: These tests measure the electrical activity in the brain, which may be decreased, sporadic or completely ceased in a child who has suffered a diffuse axonal injury.
These tests can be conducted rather easily because the majority of children who suffer a brain injury related to diffuse axonal injury are rendered unconscious immediately following the accident. Unfortunately, this state of unconsciousness often turns into a comatose state for nearly 90% of patients.
While there are many causes of diffuse axonal injuries in children and many ways to diagnose and detect brain injury, there is no “cure” for the resulting lifetime of difficulties your child may face. To help ease the financial burden on your family, you may need to contact an Andover child injury lawyer to file a child injury claim to recover damages related to your child’s accident and injury.
Contacting a Massachusetts Child Injury Lawyer
If your child suffered a traumatic brain injury in Massachusetts because of the negligence of another, you and/or your child may be entitled to compensation to help with medical bills and ongoing medical treatments. For more information on child injuries, order this free book, Dealing with a Nightmare: The Essential Steps to Take if Your Child Suffers a Serious Injury. The Massachusetts child injury lawyers at Kiley Law Group serve clients in the greater Boston area and will advocate for fair compensation for your child’s injuries. For a no cost evaluation of your child’s injury case, contact us today at 1-800-930-8145.
September 2, 2010
It is a tragedy when a young child suffers an acquired brain injury, as the long-term effects can cause drastic changes in the course of your child’s life.
Victims who suffer acquired brain injury at a very young age face additional challenges simply based on their lack of life experience.
When brain injury causes trouble with memory and learning in adults, they can usually draw on past experience or knowledge to help them along. Young children do not have this option and therefore require a different approach to treatment. In some cases, school specialists and therapy professionals may be able to help your child with enhancing their development and overcoming these difficulties.
Paying extra attention to your child’s stimulation and physical needs is also important during recovery and development after an acquired brain injury. You should make sure all your child’s physical needs are met and that they are not over-stimulated by school or social interaction, which can cause behavioral issues. Infants and toddlers may need additional help developing their motor and speech skills, and older children may need assistance with social skills.
The causes of acquired brain injury in children are just as varied and unique as the resulting effects the injury may have on their lives. If your family has experienced the tragedy of an acquired brain injury you may want to seek the help of an experienced Andover child injury lawyer to file a personal injury claim.
Contacting a Massachusetts Child Injury Lawyer
If your child has suffered serious injury because of the negligence of another, order this free book, Dealing with a Nightmare: The Essential Steps to Take if Your Child Suffers a Serious Injury. The Massachusetts child injury lawyers at Kiley Law Group serve clients in the greater Boston area and will advocate for fair compensation for your child’s injuries. For a no-cost evaluation of your child’s injury case, contact us today at 800-930-8145.
September 2, 2010
Most parents are unfamiliar with the term “diffuse axonal injury” but they have heard of Shaken Baby Syndrome. These two terms refer to the same type of child brain injury which can occur from car accidents or any other type of accident where there is rapid acceleration and deceleration that causes your child’s head to jerk about.
What are diffuse axonal injuries?
Child brain trauma suffered from diffuse axonal injuries is due to a rapid back and forth movement of the head. When the head is shaken violently such as in a car crash, the brain moves back and forth in the skull, causing the axons in the nerve cells to become disrupted. The scraping of brain tissues during this movement causes shearing and lesions, often resulting in cranial bleeding.
There are many medical complications that arise from diffuse axonal injuries. Brain tissues are highly sensitive and the slightest agitation may cause long term, or even fatal effects. In almost 90% of severe child brain injury cases including diffuse axonal injuries, the child enters a comatose state with little to no chance of recovery.
Diagnosis of Diffuse Axonal Injuries
The most common sign of child brain injury resulting from diffuse axonal injuries is lack of consciousness, which can last for more than 6 hours. Conscious children may exhibit some of the other symptoms of a child brain injury such as blurred vision, vomiting, ringing in the ears, and headaches.
To diagnose diffuse axonal injuries a doctor will perform a MRI, a CT scan, an EEG, or an Evoked Potentials test. MRI tests are the most common, as CT Scans often result in false negatives. If the child is conscious and old enough to evaluate, they may be asked questions to test their cognitive ability.
When examining the test results, doctors will consider the scans of the brain tissue, as well as the electrical activity in the brain and the visual, auditory, and sensory pathways. Any abnormalities in normal functionality may alert the doctor to a child brain injury that can be pinpointed to diffuse axonal injuries.
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September 2, 2010
Diffuse Axonal Injuries and Child Brain Injury
Diffuse axonal injuries are a common type of serious child brain injury that can occur when your child has been involved in a car accident or sports accident. Rapid back and forth movement of the head causes the damage to the brain tissues that can create a multitude of problems.
The most immediate concerns with preventing additional damage from diffuse axonal injuries are to reduce swelling, pressure and bleeding within the brain. The lesions created by the head trauma cause the death of brain cells which can damage every aspect of your child’s functionality, both mental and physical.
The sad truth of children who regain consciousness following a child brain injury from diffuse axonal injuries is that they often suffer from severe impairments. Serious rehabilitation work for speech, occupational, recreational and physical therapy is often necessary and many will need assistive equipment for life-long physical impairments.
Diffuse Axonal Injuries and Shaken Baby Syndrome
Unfortunately, diffuse axonal injuries are often signs of what is known as Shaken Baby Syndrome. Shaken Baby Syndrome is a common sign of child abuse and a study conducted by the UNC School of Medicine in 2003 reported that an estimated 1,300 children experienced a child brain injury due to similar abuse in the previous year.
If your infant suffered a child brain injury due to diffuse axonal injuries and your doctor suspects Shaken Baby Syndrome you may need the help of an Andover child injury lawyer to settle your case. In some cases, a caretaker or babysitter may be responsible for the injuries, which may result in criminal charges.
Contacting a Massachusetts Child Injury Lawyer
If your child suffered a traumatic brain injury in Massachusetts because of the negligence of another, you and/or your child may be entitled to compensation to help with medical bills and ongoing medical treatments. For more information on child injuries, order this free book, Dealing with a Nightmare: The Essential Steps to Take if Your Child Suffers a Serious Injury. The Massachusetts child injury lawyers at Kiley Law Group serve clients in the greater Boston area and will advocate for fair compensation for your child’s injuries. For a no cost evaluation of your child’s injury case, contact us today at 1-800-930-8145.
September 2, 2010
The sad truth of diffuse axonal brain injuries is that 90% of such injuries result in the child becoming comatose. In the few that do regain consciousness, they face a lifetime of physical and mental challenges that no child should have to experience.
The short term effects on a child suffering from a diffuse axonal brain injury may include:
- loss of consciousness;
- stopped or labored breathing;
- seizures;
- vomiting;
- lack of muscle control (either rigidity or limpness); and
- cardiovascular irregularity.
Long term effects may include:
- learning disabilities;
- sensory disabilities (visual and hearing);
- speech impairment;
- chronic seizures;
- behavioral disabilities;
- cerebral palsy; and
- difficulty with memory.
Infants are among the most common victims of diffuse axonal injury because their brain tissues are younger and more susceptible to damage. An infant’s head is also about 25% their total body weight and their neck muscles are still developing, causing their heads to be more easily jerked about. Another sad fact is that many frustrated parents or caretakers can easily cause this type of child brain injury when they shake a baby.
Shaking is not the only cause of diffuse axonal injuries in children. Any accident that results in the rapid back and forth movement of the head where the brain moves within the skull can lead to this devastating type of child brain injury. Car accidents and sports injuries are also common factors that lead to a diffuse axonal brain injury.
Contacting a Massachusetts Child Injury Lawyer
If your child suffered a traumatic brain injury in Massachusetts because of the negligence of another, you and/or your child may be entitled to compensation to help with medical bills and ongoing medical treatments. For more information on child injuries, order this free book, Dealing with a Nightmare: The Essential Steps to Take if Your Child Suffers a Serious Injury. The Massachusetts child injury lawyers at Kiley Law Group serve clients in the greater Boston area and will advocate for fair compensation for your child’s injuries. For a no cost evaluation of your child injury case, contact us today at 1-800-930-8145.
September 1, 2010
The best form of child brain injury prevention is proper safety measures. Studies show that as many as 85% of all child brain injuries sustained in bicycle accidents could be prevented by proper use of bicycle helmets. Nearly every state in the United States has laws that require children to wear bicycle helmets up to a certain age to help in child brain injury prevention.
Bicycle helmets are not only good for preventing serious head injury, but have also been shown to be 88% effective in child brain injury prevention and 65% effective in facial injury reduction. Estimates show that if all riders wore bicycle helmets, an estimated 500 fatalities involving bicyclists could be prevented each year.
Unfortunately, even with state laws and safety education programs, many children still ride bikes without the protection of a helmet. Child brain injury prevention is greatly enhanced by the use of properly-fitted safety equipment, including a child bicycle helmet that meets the uniform safety standards issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Your local government may have programs available to help provide low-cost or free bicycle helmets, as well as training and safety programs for safe bicycle riding.
Contacting a Massachusetts Child Brain Injury Lawyer
If your child has suffered serious injury because of the negligence of another, order this free book, Dealing with a Nightmare: The Essential Steps to Take if Your Child Suffers a Serious Injury. The Massachusetts child brain injury lawyers at Kiley Law Group serve clients in the greater Boston area and will advocate for fair compensation for your child’s injuries. For a no-cost evaluation of your child’s injury case, contact us today at 800-930-8145.
September 1, 2010
Starting or returning to school following a serious injury may prove to be difficult for your child. Aside from any physical limitations they may now experience, they may still suffer mental effects that are sometimes not perceived as part of their injury. This is especially apparent after an acquired brain injury, as many children may experience behavioral and mental complications following their brain injury.
If your child is attending school, you should make the staff aware of the situation your child now faces. Depending on the severity of the injuries, your child may need special learning assistance, daily medical care and behavioral watches. It is up to the school faculty and you as a parent to determine the best course of care for your child’s needs.
You may need to work with the school counselor, nurse or the child’s teacher to manage behavioral issues such as hostility, outbursts and other inappropriate activity. Lesson plans and assignments may need to be specialized to accommodate learning disabilities such as lack of concentration or understanding.
Communicating with your child on a regular basis about how he or she is doing in school is the most important thing you can do to help them succeed. Because many problems stem from peer interaction, children who have suffered injuries from an acquired brain injury may face their worst problems from others rather than their own limitations.
It’s important to understand the causes of acquired brain injury in an effort to prevent this devastating injury from happening to your child. If you have suffered the unfortunate event of your child being affected by an acquired brain injury you are not alone. An experienced Andover child injury lawyer can help you seek compensation for your child’s pain and suffering.
Contacting a Massachusetts Child Injury Lawyer
If your child has suffered serious injury because of the negligence of another, order this free book, Dealing with a Nightmare: The Essential Steps to Take if Your Child Suffers a Serious Injury. The Massachusetts child injury lawyers at Kiley Law Group serve clients in the greater Boston area and will advocate for fair compensation for your child’s injuries. For a no-cost evaluation of your child’s injury case, contact us today at 800-930-8145.
September 1, 2010
There are two ways to help prevent the occurrence of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) from harming your child: protection and education. Infants and toddlers are generally unable to protect themselves, so it’s up to you as their parent to help keep them from dangerous situations. Older children can benefit from safety education to help them know how to best protect themselves.
Protecting your child from a TBI at any age is a matter of keeping your home safe from hazardous situations and knowing that where your child plays is a safe area. For infants and toddlers, baby gates on staircases and window guards can help prevent falls. Keeping flooring clear of toys and other debris is also important for people of all ages.
Educating older children on proper safety habits is also a good way to help minimize the risk of a TBI. If your children are active bicycle or skateboard riders, stress the importance of helmet use. Massachusetts law dictates that bicycle riders ages 16 years and younger must wear a helmet. The helmet should fit snugly and meet the American National Standards Institute guidelines for safety helmets.
If your child participates in sports, make sure they are also wearing the proper safety equipment. Baseball and tackle football are both sports that have increased risks for head injuries, and helmets should be worn at all times. Proper use of safety restraints while traveling in cars can help prevent traumatic brain injuries in the event of a serious car accident.
There are many causes of traumatic brain injury and while not all are preventable, you can help minimize the risk by taking time to protect your children and teaching them to protect themselves. Even the most diligent parents can still experience the trauma of a serious injury to their child, and an Andover child injury lawyer can help you through this difficult time.
Contacting a Massachusetts Child Injury Lawyer
If your child suffered a traumatic brain injury in Massachusetts as the result of the negligence of another, you and/or your child may be entitled to compensation to help with medical bills and ongoing medical treatments. To learn more about child injuries, order this free book, Dealing with a Nightmare: The Essential Steps to Take if Your Child Suffers a Serious Injury. The Massachusetts child injury lawyers at Kiley Law Group serve clients in the greater Boston area and will advocate for fair compensation for your child’s injuries. For a no cost evaluation of your child’s injury case, contact us today at 1-800-930-8145.
September 1, 2010
When a child experiences a head injury it may range from a minor, superficial bump to a more serious concussion or wound. No matter the circumstances, when it comes to any head injury to your child, it is always better to be safe than sorry and seek the advice of a medical professional. When the injury is caused by the negligence of another, an Andover child injury lawyer may be able to help you file for compensation for your child’s medical bills and suffering.
Overview of Acquired Brain Injury
An acquired brain injury is a form of brain injury that may not be caused by blunt trauma to the brain. This type of brain injury occurs on the cellular level and— unlike a traumatic brain injury—can affect cells throughout the entire brain. An acquired brain injury does not include injuries that are genetic, congenital, induced by birth trauma or degenerative.
Symptoms of any type of head injury that should be examined by a medical professional include:
- Loss of consciousness;
- Difficulty breathing, speaking or swallowing;
- Ringing in the ears or loss of hearing;
- Vomiting;
- Confusion or memory loss;
- Paralysis or tingling/numbness in the limbs; and
- Changes in mood or mental function.
Some symptoms of acquired brain injury are experienced more frequently or severely than other types of head injury. These include a higher severity of mental impairments with thinking and memory skills and more behavioral problems such as psychosis, depression, restlessness, combativeness and hostility. Increased physical afflictions include longer lengths spent in a comatose or vegetative state and more frequent or severe muscle mobility disorders.
Causes of Acquired Brain Injury
An acquired brain injury is usually caused by non-trauma factors and there are many types of medical conditions and diseases that can result in acquired brain injury.
Some of the more common causes include:
- Prolonged lack of oxygen to the brain;
- Near-drowning;
- Electrical shock;
- Disruption of blood flow to the brain (including heart attack or stroke);
- Poisoning (especially carbon monoxide poisoning);
- Meningitis;
- Cranial tumors; and
- Seizures.
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