Returning to school after brain trauma requires planning
When your child suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a car crash, you hoped that he would get back to his normal self quickly. Unfortunately, while there has been improvement, there’s still a long way to go.
As time goes on, you realize that your child has to go back to school, but it could be more difficult than it was in the past. What should you know about your child returning to school after such a serious injury?
Recognize the changes early on
The best way to help your child through this transition is to understand how much he or she may have changed. Traumatic brain injuries cause physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioral changes. How your child reacts to a brain injury may vary, but you may notice that he or she is more tired or suffers from headaches. He or she might struggle with noise or lighting in classrooms. He or she could become forgetful or have trouble learning new ideas or material.
Emotionally, children with brain injuries may struggle when their routines are changed. They may become irritable or be unable to handle unexpected events during a school day, like a sudden fire drill.
How can you reduce the stress of returning to school after a traumatic brain injury?
Start by recognizing that your child may need assistance. Planning to have a professional work with your child during the school day or having rehabilitation professionals talk to the school may help. School systems do have special programs that can help your child transition back into school as he or she recovers.
Traumatic brain injuries vary, and the help your child needs may as well. Your Sacramento injury lawyer can take steps to make sure your child has all the financial support and assistance he or she needs.
Source: Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center, “Returning to School After Traumatic Brain Injury,” accessed Jan. 10, 2018