Impact of head injuries on children

							Impact of head injuries on children

Researchers at the University of California in Los Angeles found a blow to the head
can affect a child's mental functioning for years afterwards, depending on how severely
the brain is affected. Children with mild brain injuries typically showed subtle effects that
resolved with time, but for more serious injuries, the risk of lingering problems was
significantly greater.

Children who suffered mild head injuries showed differences in memory skill, atten tion
span and verbal ability in the short term, but about two years after the injury most
chilgdren showed no significant effects. However, the study showed deficits in verbal
skills as a result of injury in younger children - those aged between 2 and 7 years at the
time of injury lingered. The review further found that the long-term outlook was not
good for children who suffered moderate-to-severe brain injuries.

Children with moderate brain injuries lagged behind their peers in areas such as brain
processing speed, memory skill and problem solving. For children with severe brain
injuries, researchers found that not keepin up with their peers often worsened over
time. They concluded that it is of the utmost importance for head injuries to be
prevented in the first place through the consistent use of helmets and seat belts. This
is especially crucial for younger children, whose brains appear to be vulnerable to
lasting damage.