A blow to the head can affect a child's mental functioning years later, depending on how severely the brain is affected.
A blow to the head can affect a child's mental functioning years later, depending on how severely the brain is affected.
In a review of 28 studies published in the last 20 years, researchers from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) found that children with mild brain injuries typically showed subtle effects that resolved with time. With more severe injuries, however, the risk of lingering problems was significantly greater.
The review found that compared with other children their age, children who had suffered mild head injuries showed small, and frequently negligible, differences in memory, attention and verbal ability in the short term. In the long term - two years or more after the injury - most children showed no significant effects. There was, however, evidence that in younger children - those who were between 2 and 7 years old at the time of the injury - deficits in verbal skills sometimes lingered.
For children who suffer moderate to severe brain injuries, the long- term outlook is not as good. It was found that in the months after their injury, children with moderate brain injuries typically lagged behind their peers in certain intellectual measures, like brain processing speed, memory and problem solving. Two or more years later, the children generally showed some improvements, but often still trailed other children their age. For children with severe brain injuries, the review found that the gaps with their peers often worsened over time. This finding highlights the importance of targeted treatment for children with severe brain injuries.
The above findings underscore the importance of preventing head injuries in the first place - through consistent use of helmets and seatbelts. This is especially important for younger children, whose brains appear to be vulnerable to lasting damage.
In a review of 28 studies published in the last 20 years, researchers from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) found that children with mild brain injuries typically showed subtle effects that resolved with time. With more severe injuries, however, the risk of lingering problems was significantly greater.
The review found that compared with other children their age, children who had suffered mild head injuries showed small, and frequently negligible, differences in memory, attention and verbal ability in the short term. In the long term - two years or more after the injury - most children showed no significant effects. There was, however, evidence that in younger children - those who were between 2 and 7 years old at the time of the injury - deficits in verbal skills sometimes lingered.
For children who suffer moderate to severe brain injuries, the long- term outlook is not as good. It was found that in the months after their injury, children with moderate brain injuries typically lagged behind their peers in certain intellectual measures, like brain processing speed, memory and problem solving. Two or more years later, the children generally showed some improvements, but often still trailed other children their age. For children with severe brain injuries, the review found that the gaps with their peers often worsened over time. This finding highlights the importance of targeted treatment for children with severe brain injuries.
The above findings underscore the importance of preventing head injuries in the first place - through consistent use of helmets and seatbelts. This is especially important for younger children, whose brains appear to be vulnerable to lasting damage.
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