Traumatic Brain Injuries and Mental Health Connection in Youth
Traumatic Brain Injuries and Mental Health Connection in Youth
According to recent research by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute that was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, approximately a third of children and adolescents have been found to develop mental health issues after sustaining a concussion. This can persist for many years post-injury, according to their findings.
Up until this research, the relationship between concussion recovery and mental health had not been well-understood. The study comes after other recent findings by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute that traumatic brain injuries in childhood were associated with lower IQ, with a drop in IQ scores detected for up to seven years following the injury.
With summer upon us and the easing of COVID restrictions, more youth will be ready to get out and get active this season after being cooped up for the last year. But this new information should be heeded by parents.
More Information Regarding Traumatic Brain Injuries
New information has become more readily available over the past few years regarding the effects of concussions on children and adults alike. Even mild concussions can have long-term consequences for individuals.
While most concussive symptoms may only last a short period of time, typically from seven to ten days for athletes and up to three months for non-athletes, up to 30 percent of individuals who have suffered a concussion have lingering symptoms that don’t go away. In addition, those who have suffered a concussion are more susceptible to experiencing another one, particularly within the first year.
As for the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute study, symptoms that were experienced by these children included:
- Withdrawal
- Depression
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Anxiety
- Aggression
- ADHD
Getting Help After a Brain Injury
If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, it is essential to be watchful for symptoms. If your injury was due to the negligence of another, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your injuries and subsequent treatment. Contact the experienced Cambridge personal injury lawyers at Hilborn and Konduros for a no-cost consultation at (519) 658-6341 to understand your rights under the law.
