If a Pennsylvania resident experiences a head injury, it could come with lasting consequences. Those consequences may be even more severe if a child experienced a blow to the head or any other injury that interferes with brain function. In 2009, roughly 250,000 people age 19 and younger were treated for TBIs related to sports or other recreational activities. This was according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC also revealed that there was a 57 percent increase in the number of people age 19 or younger who received treatment for such a TBI from 2001 to 2009. The effects of a TBI could include difficulty with reasoning, language or memory. Those who suffer multiple concussions may develop a condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy . Researchers found that kids who suffer a mild concussion are twice as likely to have issues with attention.
Those who suffered a major TBI were five times more likely to develop symptoms related to ADHD. However, it was discovered that family members may play a role in how well a child recovers. Children who lived in optimal home environments displayed fewer symptoms compared to those who grew up in less structured environments. Early intervention may also play a role in reducing TBI symptoms in a child.
People can of course suffer a head injury in other ways besides contact sports. These frequently occur when a person suddenly slips and falls or is in a motor vehicle collision. If the injury was due to the negligence of another party, victims may want to have legal help in seeking appropriate compensation for their losses.