Kids and brain injury: what you need to know to prevent long-term damage

by Michael Pines, Accident & Injury Prevention Expert

Kids and brain injury: now that the school season has begun, learn what you can do to prevent brain injury for your little one.

When people talk about traumatic brain injury, many assume its the type of injury reserved for professional athletes or those who serve our country. But the truth is, brain injury can happen to anyone, and when it does, lives can be changed forever. When children get injured, not only does the risk for permanent disability skyrocket, but the severity of the injury can increase substantially.

Fortunately, most people who sustain a TBI including children will recover from the incident within a few days or weeks. Some mild brain injuries can heal with proper medical care. However, some brain injuries even mild concussions can lead to long-term damage.

Now, researchers at The American Academy of Neurology are determining how brain injury affects children and how repetitive TBIs or even one severe blow to the head can lead to a neurodegenerative disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

CTE is a type of brain injury that can leave an injured person with irreparable brain atrophy similar to Alzheimers disease. Essentially, repetitive or severe TBIs can turn a perfectly healthy brain into one with the physiological characteristics of Alzheimers disease even for individuals as young as 5, 6, and 7 years old and even younger in some cases.

Children are at particular risk of developing CTE because brain tissues are still developing, and any damage can greatly affect the outcome of long-term diseases that can arise from TBIs.

With the start of the new school year with many sports to be played, many parents, especially those of children involved in sports, want to know: how can I prevent my child from getting a brain injury?

Theres no doubt that young children are, by nature, at risk for different types of injury depending on how active or adventurous the little one may be. So thats why its now more important than ever to play it safe on and off the field. Heres what you can do to reduce your childs risk for TBIs and any long-term damage associated with head injury.

Get immediate medical help. If you suspect your child has sustained a brain injury no matter how mild you assume it to be always seek professional medical help. Getting the right treatment right away can help reduce your risk for future damage.

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Kids and brain injury: what you need to know to prevent long-term damage