What Parents of School-age Children Should Know About TBI

A childhood traumatic brain injury may not be fully understood by those in the medical and educational communities. Many times students who have suffered a TBI are seen as having learning disabilities, emotional problems or even mental retardation. This leads to the school child not receiving the proper educational assistance or support.

A child with TBI returning to school may have entirely different educational and emotional needs than before their accident. Often the child will remember how they functioned prior to their injury which adds to their frustration. The child's peers, teachers and family may also have unrealistic expectations, and may have difficulty adapting to the new situation.

In cases such as these it is vital that planning for the return to school of a child suffering a TBI be well thought out and careful plans made. The first step is for the parents to ask about the special education services available at their child's school. The school will need to conduct a thorough evaluation of the child's current abilities to fully assess the student's educational needs. An Individualized Education Program (IEP) will be developed by the school and the parents based on this evaluation.

As the child's needs at school evolve, the IEP can be altered to fit the needs of the child with TBI.

Note: The preceding information from adapted from a fact sheet provided by the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities.

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury through the negligence or carelessness of others, you may be entitled to compensation.

The assistance of an experienced Traumatic Brain Injury lawyer can help you find the answers you need and get the compensation you deserve. The filing of a lawsuit may help you recover financial damages to help you with the continuing medical bills and compensate you for your physical and mental suffering. Don't risk your health and peace of mind.