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Supporting your child with a Brain Injury

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Thousands of children are affected by acquired brain injury (or ABI as it is
sometimes called) in the UK every year.
‘Acquired’ means that your child was not born with their brain injury. Their brain
has been harmed as a result of an accident, illness (such as meningitis or
encephalitis), birth complications or medical negligence.
Birth complications may include problems with the umbilical cord or placenta, or if
the baby’s shoulder becomes stuck in the birth canal (known as shoulder dystocia).
If a doctor or midwife makes mistakes during your baby’s birth that could have
been prevented or they fail to take all the necessary actions to minimise the
chances of your baby being harmed (called medical or clinical negligence), you
may be able to make a compensation claim.

Some examples of medical errors that can lead to your child sustaining a brain
injury include: failing to recognise serious complications or conditions, poor care
during delivery, prolonged labour and excessive force used during a forceps or
ventouse (vacuum extractor) delivery.
If your baby has an acquired brain injury and you think mistakes were made during
their birth or if you are unsure whether your baby’s birth was dealt with
incorrectly, it is important to seek specialist legal advice from a medical
negligence solicitor.

What are the symptoms of brain injury?
Brain injuries in babies and children can vary from mild to severe. Some of the
more serious symptoms can include seizures, developmental delays and cognitive
impairments, such as difficulties with communication, understanding and memory.
Your child may show signs of cerebral palsy, for example: stiff or paralyzed
muscles, tight joints, muscle spasms or tremors and difficulties walking).

Other common effects of brain injury include tiredness and fatigue, emotional
difficulties and behavioural issues.
Sometimes the full effects of your child’s brain injury will not be realised until
years later. This is because children’s brains are not fully developed until they
reach adulthood. If part of the brain is injured during the earlier stages of
development, your child may not go on to gain some of the skills they otherwise
might have.

How is brain injury treated?
Unfortunately, there is no single ‘cure’ or treatment for acquired brain injury.
Some children may never make a complete recovery.
It can take a long time for progress to be made and this can be very difficult for
parents and guardians who just want the best for their child.
However, children often respond well to treatments and can get back skills they’ve
lost through specialist therapies and support.
A tailored programme of rehabilitation aims to give children the opportunity to
work on skills they are having trouble with and gain as much independence as
possible.

Rehabilitation may include things like neuro-physiotherapy, speech and language
therapy, occupational therapy, psychotherapy and neuropsychology.
While medical professionals can never guarantee a certain level of recovery,
children do sometimes exceed expectations and experience significant
improvements.

What financial support is available?
It is essential your child is provided with the rehabilitation they need to ensure
that they make the best recovery possible.
Unfortunately, often your child will be unable to access the specialist
rehabilitation they need through the NHS.

However, if you are in the process of making a medical negligence compensation
claim, your specialist solicitor can help secure regular interim payments before the
final settlement is reached to fund your child’s rehabilitation.
Early compensation payments can also help with your additional travel expenses to
and from the mainland for medical appointments and specialist therapies.

To find out more about making a compensation claim for your child, visit:
https://www.novumlaw.com/services/head-brain-injury/child-head-and-brain-injury/ or
contact: https://www.novumlaw.com/contact/solicitors-isle-of-wight/