Resources for Families
We’ve put together a few trusted resources that may be useful for families. Whether you’re looking for tips on sleep or want to learn more about recovery after a brain injury, you’ll find some helpful links below.
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A traumatic brain injury is an injury that is caused by a blow to the head or other injury to the brain. Common causes of traumatic brain injuries in children are car accidents, falls or sporting injuries. A traumatic brain injury is more common in children (e.g. following sports injuries) and older adults (e.g. after falls).
In the first couple of days following the event, the brain might be swollen and/or bruised and have tissue damage. Milder injuries are associated with fewer brain changes. The brain itself activates mechanisms to try and minimize the damage.
This may cause some symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, poor sleep or concentration (post-concussive symptoms). If you are experiencing symptoms like this it would be advisable to be checked by a medical professional.
After this initial stage, the swelling goes away and doctors are able to better understand, whether the brain has been affected in the longer term (e.g. by doing a scan). These investigations are usually done only in cases where the parents or the child report ongoing problems (e.g. headaches, thinking problems).
It is important to note that many children will have no issues whatsoever following a traumatic brain injury, especially, if it is categorized as mild by doctors. More serious cases, will be referred to specialists for rehabilitation in order to regain their lost skills and/or learn new ways of doing things. Recovery from more serious injuries may take years but most changes will be achieved within the first two years.
Some resources to better understand what happens in traumatic brain injury can be found below.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/head-injury-and-concussion/
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/traumatic-brain-injury-tbi
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Studies have shown that somechildren may struggle with their school performance and have behavioral/mood changes following a traumatic brain injury. How serious the injury is in the first place as well as which areas of the brain are affected by the injury play a role in whether and to what extent such problems will occur. For example, if the front part of the brain has been affected then behavioral/personality/mood changes may be more likely.
Memory and attention problems as well as mental health issues like depression have also been commonly reported after a traumatic brain injury. In more serious and/or local injuries, speech and movement are also affected and more intensive rehabilitation is necessary. Behavioral and thinking changes may be temporary or may affect the child for longer.
As a parent you need to gather as much information as possible on the changes that you observe in your child (e.g. ask teachers and friends). Often the child itself can talk to you about the issues they are facing but there are cases (e.g. babies, non-verbal) when they cannot. If such problems persist, you should seek consultation from your General Practitioner, who may refer you to a clinical psychologist for an in-depth assessment of your child’s strengths and difficulties.
Sleep problems have also been reported in some children following traumatic brain injury. These include sleeping more hours than before the injury, having difficulties falling asleep, waking up more often during the night. Some children report feeling more fatigued following their injury. This may be related to not getting enough hours of sleep during the night or may be related to the injury itself. Not getting enough sleep may in part be responsible for the behavioral and thinking problems that some children are facing so it is important to address these issues by seeking help.
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Sleep is a basic human need and is crucial for everything our brain and body does. It plays a key role in how often we get sick, whether we can stay focused on what we are doing, whether we remember something we learned yesterday etc. Not sleeping well over a long period of time can have long term effects on how our bodies work. For example, not sleeping well can lead to weight gain through changes in your metabolism. Sleep is particularly important during childhood development. That is why newborns tend to sleep approximately 16 hours per day. Apart from how many hours you sleep at night, the time you go to sleep is also important. In other words, sleeping at 10pm for 6 hours is better than sleeping at 2am for the same number of hours. Similarly, waking up many times during the night is less optimal to sleep that is not interrupted. Luckily, sleep problems can be tackled in a number of ways and this is why we are keen to study your child’s sleep patterns following their traumatic brain injury.
Some resources to better understand why sleep is important can be found below:
https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-health-issues/sleep/
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep/why-sleep-important
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A co-ordinated team approach is important to provide effective support to children following a traumatic brain injury to help guide their recovery. This will typically involve the child, their parents and teachers and, depending on the severity of the injury, may also involve doctors and other allied health professionals, such as physiotherapists or occupational therapists.
It is important to understand that every child, as well as every injury is different, and a “one-size-fits-all” approach is not effective. Support should be tailored to the child’s individual symptoms and needs.
A collaborative approach between families, teachers and other professionals provides the best chance of enabling as full and smooth a recovery as possible.
Common adaptations that may be required might include:
A phased return-to-school plan to help manage cognitive overload and fatigue
Support for quiet spaces and frequent rest breaks
Extra time with exams or assignments
Extra visual aids to help with memory and focus
Early identification of any difficulties that the child might be having, for example with their memory, concentration (i.e. cognitive performance).
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There are many organisations and charities who provide help and advice to children with a traumatic brain injury and/or sleeping difficulties. These are some links to information resources provided by some of our trusted partner organisations: