Many Ohio residents may be surprised to learn that traumatic brain injuries are the leading cause of disability and death for children ages birth to four and 15 to 19. A TBI can result from a variety of injuries including birth injuries, medication mistakes, surgical errors and misdiagnosis.

Children who suffer TBIs face a difficult and uncertain future. Due to the complexity of the brain and its various components, brain injury victims often suffer a variety of negative side effects that vary greatly in severity. TBIs commonly result in those impacted having cognitive and intellectual impairments. Other common permanent injuries that often manifest as a result of a brain injury include headaches, memory loss, depression and mood swings.

It's especially difficult to fully understand the extent of a brain injury in a young child who is still growing and developing. It can be equally as difficult to determine a prognosis for a TBI suffered by a teenager as many of the symptoms and side effects are commonly associated with hormonal and emotional changes often experienced during the teen years.

Parents of children impacted by brain injuries are often presented with little information and few options related to their child's injury. There can be great variance in the manner in which a brain injury manifests which makes diagnosis, prognosis and treatment options difficult to discern.

With young children who experience a brain injury, it's believed early intervention is important. A variety of therapies including physical, behavioral and occupational may be beneficial and produce a favorable outcome.

Source: Durango Herald, "Brain injuries cause developmental disabilities in children," Tara Kiene, Sept. 11, 2012