Infants and young children are the most vulnerable. Not only are they physically still growing but they can lack to vocabulary to describe if and how they are suffering.
The CDC reports that traumatic brain injuries are one of the leading causes of permanent disability and death among infants and young children.
Causes of Infant Brain Injuries
There are many reasons why infants develop brain injuries. It could be due to a traumatic birth in which:
There was blunt trauma to the infant’s head, such as from a forceps extraction injury
Long labor that compressed the infant’s head within the birth canal for too long
The infant was deprived of oxygen for too long
Physical Appearances
Once the infant begins developing and growing more, the physical signs of a brain injury will be more apparent for the family as well as medical professionals. Such physical signs could include:
An abnormally long forehead
An abnormally shaped spine
Distorted facial features
Difficulty focusing eyes
Temperament Changes
In addition, infants with brain injuries may also develop abnormal temperaments that may include:
Troubles sleeping while laying down
Excessive crying or fussiness
Feeding issues
Developmental Delays
One of the most heartbreaking signs of brain injuries in infants is developmental delays. At times you may expect your children to be rolling over, sitting up, and saying their first words, they may be behind this expected timeline of milestones.
As your child grows older, the signs of developmental delays will become more apparent to you. Developmental delays common in infants with brain injuries can be broken down into three categories: cognitive symptoms, perceptual symptoms, and physical symptoms.
Cognitive Symptoms: Your child may show signs of difficulty with attention and concentration, memory and processing information, language abilities and communication, and controlling impulses.
Perceptual Symptoms: You may need your medical professional to help diagnose these symptoms. They include spatial disorientation, changes in vision and/or hearing, and heightened sensitivity to pain.
Physical Symptoms: Your child may experience extreme fatigue, sleeping disorders, sleep disorders, paralysis, and tremors.
How Are Infant Brain Injuries Diagnosed?
The only person that can diagnose your child with a brain injury is a qualified medical caregiver. If your child is showing any of these symptoms and you suspect that they may have a brain injury, you should seek medical attention right away.
The sooner you do, the more medical help your child can receive. It’s always better to be careful than sorry. In addition, if your child sustained a brain injury due to an act of medical negligence, it will also work in your favor to seek assistance immediately from an experienced brain injury attorney.
The compassionate brain injury attorneys at Scarlett Law Group have worked with many families who have gone through similar situations. Backed by over 25 years of legal experience, we will work to sort out the evidence of your case and help you seek compensation for your family. Your family comes first. Seek the best possible representation for your case.
Contact Scarlett Law Group at (415) 688-2176 to discuss your brain injury case today.