Dell Children’s provides care for traumatic brain injury in children

When your child suffers a traumatic brain injury (TBI) after a vehicle incident, taking a fall, or playing sports, it’s essential to seek care right away. Families in Central Texas choose Dell Children’s for TBI care because it’s the only hospital in the region that provides multidisciplinary care for children. Dell Children’s provides care for TBIs like concussions, skull fractures and bleeding around or within the brain.

Symptoms of TBI

When your child suffers from a TBI, symptoms that affect their physical, cognitive, emotional and sleeping behavior can occur. Signs of TBI include headache, nausea, balance problems, difficulty staying focused or remembering things, irritability, sadness and a change in sleeping patterns. If your child shows signs of TBI, immediately seek emergency care.

TBI care options

The TBI care team at Dell Children’s works with you and your family to find the best treatment plan for recovery to help your child return to academic, athletic, home, and community settings as quickly and safely as possible. TBI care at Dell Children’s includes two clinics, the Complex Concussion Clinic and the TBI Clinic, which personalize care for mild injuries to the most complex. Children seen in the emergency room or requiring more specialized care than in a primary care setting are treated in the Complex Concussion Clinic. Children hospitalized or receiving inpatient rehabilitation following their injury are typically treated in the TBI Clinic. 

Advanced care for TBI

When your child is referred to one of the TBI care clinics, you and your family will have a care team that listens and provides the best treatment for you and your family. Your visit will include:

• Detailed discussion of injury history, symptoms, and pre-injury risk factors
• Education about expected recovery
• Individualized plan of care, including symptom management, academic recommendations and a rehabilitative plan for return to activities
• Medical evaluation with a neurological exam
• Neuropsychological screening for attention, processing speed and memory

Rest after an injury

Once your child is home, monitor their TBI treatment, keeping activities to a minimum. After your child experiences a TBI, they need to take it easy the first few days after the injury when symptoms are more severe. Early on, limit physical and thinking activities to avoid causing symptoms to worsen. Ensure your child gets a good night’s sleep and naps during the day as needed. Try relaxing activities like reading to your child, coloring or playing with toys, but avoid outdoor activities like bike riding or trampolines.

Return to normal activities

As your child starts to feel better, slowly allow them to participate in activities that require more energy. If an activity does not worsen symptoms, then it is OK to continue or can be modified, like returning to school on a partial schedule. Encourage your child to go outside and take short walks.

To learn more about traumatic brain injuries visit our website.