While serious complications during child birth are rare in the UK, they do unfortunately still sometimes occur. Where those complications result in the oxygen supply to the infant’s brain being cut off or reduced, or physical trauma to the head, sadly brain damage can occur.
While brain damage is always serious, it can be a particular cause for concern in children as their brains have not yet had chance to develop. Injury to an infant’s brain can cause a range of problems with their development and other issues, many of which can be profound and lifelong, such as cerebral palsy.
One of the reasons brain damage is such a concern is that, unlike most other cells in the human body, brain cells cannot be repaired or replaced. There is a process known as ‘brain plasticity’ that can allow the brain to work around damage, meaning that some degree of recovery is often possible.
Understanding brain plasticity in children
Brain plasticity refers to the brain’s ability to “reshape” itself following an injury. Essentially, where brain cells have been damaged or destroyed, the brain has the ability to form new neural pathways to bypass the damage. This can allow other parts of the brain to take over functions the damaged parts of the brain were responsible for.
This process is not necessarily entirely effective and those with brain damage may never recover to the full level of function they would otherwise have enjoyed. However, it has long been thought that children had a greater capacity for brain plasticity than adults, due to the fact that their brains were still developing, meaning the brain’s structure was more adaptable. This is known as ‘the young age plasticity privilege’.
While opinions differ about how much more effective childhood brain plasticity is for recovery from brain injury, it does reinforce the fact that children have the ability to recover significantly from even serious brain damage.
Treatments for infant brain damage
While brain damage cannot be repaired, there are various treatments that can be used to manage the symptoms and to encourage the brain to form new neural pathways. These treatments can be very effective at dealing with some of the effects of brain damage and can significantly improve a child’s quality of life and ability to live independently.
Exactly what type of treatment will be required will depend on the exact nature of the brain damage and the issues a child is facing.
The following are some of the most commonly used treatments for brain damage in children:
- Surgery – to deal with immediate issues, such as build-up of fluid around the brain
- Medication – to manage symptoms, such as seizures and pain
- Physiotherapy – to improve movement, co-ordination and other physical issues
- Speech & language therapy – to help with communication problems
- Occupational therapy – to assist with carrying out every day self-care tasks
Funding treatment for a brain damage at birth
If your child has suffered brain damage at birth, ensuring they have access to all of the specialist treatment, support and care they need can be challenging, especially when much of this must be funded privately.
This is one of the reasons many people choose to pursue compensation for the brain damage their child suffered. Where this damage was due to negligence on the part of medical staff during childbirth, you may be entitled to significant compensation. This can then enable you to fund the treatment and other help your child needs.
If you wish to explore the possibility of pursuing compensation for brain damage at birth, it is a good idea to contact a legal team specialising in claims for birth injuries. These claims are usually complex, so having expert legal guidance can be critical to help you get the best possible settlement for your claim.
