No two children experience Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI, the same way. However, many children deal with intense emotional challenges during their recovery period. As a parent, you have a significant part in helping your child cope with these challenges, as well as helping others, such as medical professionals, understand your child’s unique needs. Your involvement in the rehabilitation process is integral to your child’s recovery and return to normal daily life.
How to Help Your Child with Traumatic Brain Injury during the Rehabilitation Process
As your child’s primary supporter and advocate, you will play a vital role in every step of their recovery. Try the suggestions below to help you and other members of your family support your child in their time of need.
Celebrate Daily Victories
As your child recovers, they may become discouraged by the pace or experience emotional ups and downs. You can help them see recovery as the long process it is by focusing on daily successes and the overall progress made. Try to be supportive and encouraging while helping your child set realistic goals. Focusing on the positives and minimizing negative feedback can help your child stay motivated throughout the rehabilitation process.
Help Them Understand Cognitive Changes
It can be challenging for children to understand all of the different functions that a TBI can change within the brain. Your child may become frustrated when they notice changes in memory, problem-solving skills, motor skills, or personality. Work with their doctor to help them understand everything that the brain controls. It may be helpful to compare their injury to an injured arm or leg. Like an injured limb, their brain will require extensive healing time and exercise to recover.
Manage Their Adjustment to Home Life
After a long period of recovery in a hospital setting, your child may feel like it is time for life to get back to normal when they are finally discharged. However, there are still many potential challenges to recovery when your child returns home. They may become resistant to additional supervision or become frustrated when they cannot immediately participate in sports or other activities they were looking forward to. Explain to your child that returning home is an essential step along the road to recovery. Helping them manage their expectations is critical to their long-term success.
Contact a Trusted California Pediatric Brain Injury Lawyer
Understanding your role in your child’s recovery is vital to the rehabilitation process. If your child’s injury resulted from an accident, it is also crucial to partner with a pediatric brain injury lawyer who can help you build a solid claim.
The Law Offices of J.G. Winter will hold negligent parties responsible for your losses and pain, so you can focus on your child’s recovery and return to daily life. We are committed to fighting tirelessly for you and your child’s legal rights and financial compensation. To schedule a free consultation, please call (844) 734-2626 or fill out our online contact form today
