Children are not just little adults! Their brains are still developing, with the greatest periods of brain maturation occurring between ages 0-3 and continuing to develop more specialized skills through young adulthood. Infants and toddlers are especially at risk for brain injury as they are just beginning to learn to walk, and they can be victims of abusive head trauma by frustrated caregivers, and are unable to report what happened to them, because they have not yet learned communication.
The symptoms of a brain injury in children may initially not be apparent, because at younger ages, demands on them are less. Parents or other caregivers make decisions for them, and they don’t have to solve problems or remember everything. As they get older, if they have impairments in memory, problem solving, or other executive skills, it may become more apparent as they experience difficulties in school.
It is important for parents/caregivers to share with school personnel whenever there has been a brain injury, and to get appropriate evaluation and treatment by professionals with training and experience in pediatric brain injury. These recommendations can be used by the school to make reasonable accommodations in learning strategies (referred to as a 504 plan) or if need be, to be considered for special education.
