Brain injuries can lead to a variety of problems for the people who are injured. When the injured person is a child, there are some very different factors to consider that can often lead to different effects because the child’s brain is still developing. This is true even if the child who is injured is a teenager.

What is the recovery like for a child with a brain injury?

The recovery for a child can be very difficult and often complex. The child’s brain continues to develop, but the development can be altered because of the brain injury. That often makes it difficult for the child to overcome the cognitive impacts. In the past, it was thought that a child’s brain was able to recover easier than an adult’s; however, it is now known that the impacts of the injury might not be apparent until later in the child’s life.

How does a brain injury affect education?

Education is affected in a variety of ways for a child with a brain injury. If the child’s medical care required that the child missed a lot of school, the child will likely be behind in school. That can be difficult for any child to overcome. A child who has a brain injury might be fighting issues with concentration and memory, which can make learning and catching up difficult or impossible.

Parents of a child with a brain injury often face life changes. The financial challenges of caring for a child with a brain injury might be some of the most difficult to overcome. With that in mind, some parents might explore the possibility of seeking compensation.

Source: Brain Injury Association of America, “Brain Injury in Children,” accessed Oct. 22, 2015