The long-term effects of dropping a baby on its head by negligent parents can affect a child for the rest of his or her life. Child Abuse and NeglectĪbuse and neglect are serious public health problems that can have a long-term impact on parts of the body and parts of the brain. While many falls are not serious, some can have severe consequences.įor example, a baby falling off a bed causing brain damage can lead to lifelong difficulties for that child. Some of the most common causes of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children are: Fallsįalls are the number one cause of TBI for young children. There are many potential causes for infant brain damage, and many incidents can be prevented with proper precautions and care. If you are concerned that your child has not reached certain milestones or has abnormal behavioral problems, reach out to a medical professional.īrain injury is the leading cause of disability and death for United States children.Īccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children age zero to four are one of the two age groups at greatest risk for brain injury. The behavioral symptoms and motor development delays can indicate a previous brain injury, but they do not indicate a diagnosis. Pulling up: At twelve months, many babies are able to pull themselves up to standįor additional information, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provides an interactive tool for parents concerned about their child’s potential developmental delays and other risk factors.Sitting up: Rolling over and sitting with a little support is common around six months of age.

Crawling: Babies typically start crawling at ninth months old.The ability to grasp objects: Babies usually start grabbing things at four months.When this happens, the child is behind his or her age group in expectations for development. Many brain injury symptoms become more apparent as the child reaches - and misses - developmental milestones. Visual perception difficulties (often misdiagnosed as dyspraxia / dyslexia).Issues with concentration, focus, and attention.Some prevalent problems that can develop later in life include: This can be particularly worrisome in instances of a potential misdiagnosis. In fact, many cases of childhood brain trauma are not apparent until years later. Some signs of newborn brain damage only become evident with time. If symptoms are more severe, you might need to take your child to the emergency room.ĭevelopmental Symptoms of Brain Damage in Children The doctor will need information including any symptoms, the location of any bruising or swelling (to the head and other areas of the body), physical descriptions of the symptoms and injury, medical history, and if applicable, how and when your baby was injured. Physical developmental abnormalities, such as an oversized or undersized headįor mild symptoms of head injuries, parents should contact their pediatrician’s office to determine a time to have their child evaluated in person.Reduced muscular strength (paralysis/paresis).Deficits in motor speed and programing (apraxia/dyspraxia).Frequent headaches, fatigue, and/or dizziness.Fluctuating states of consciousness, ranging in severity from brief loss of consciousness to comas.Many of these signs are initially subtle then become more apparent as a child fails to reach physical developmental milestones like crawling and sitting up.Ĭommon physical problems relating to brain damage include: Dents at any sites of impact (from collisions, falls, or striking objects)Įarly signs of brain damage in babies can also be detected through abnormalities in the child’s physical functioning.Blue and black discoloration behind the ears or around the eyes.This can help to prevent additional serious brain injuries and further brain damage. Parents should frequently check and evaluate their children for any abnormalities that could indicate brain damage or a head injury. Physical Symptoms of Brain Damage in Babiesīrain injuries in babies are most evident when certain physical symptoms are present.

Signs of baby head trauma