Project B.R.A.I.N. Logo - Click for Home Page


Skip Menu
955 Woodland Street
Nashville, TN 37206
Phone (615) 383-9442
FAX (615) 383-1176
TTY (615) 292-7790

When Your Child's Head Has Been Hurt

Arrow indicating your location this websiteYou Are Here: Coalition > Project B.R.A.I.N. > When Your Child's Head Has Been Hurt

What May TBI Look Like?

 

Picture of a little girl frowning

Many children who hurt their heads get well and have no long-term problems. Some children have problems that may not be noticed right away. You may see changes in your child over the next several months that concern you. This card lists some common signs that your child may have a mild brain injury. If your child has any of the problems on this list - AND THEY DON'T GO AWAY - see the "WHAT TO DO" box below.

 

 

HEALTH PROBLEMS

 

Headaches

Including

  • headache that keeps coming back
  • pain in head muscle
  • pain in head hone (skull)
  • pain below the ear
  • pain in the jaw
  • pain in or around the eyes

Balance Problems

  • dizziness
  • trouble with balance

Picture of a little boy frowning

 

Sensory ChangesPicture of a mouth

  • bothered by smells
  • changes in taste or smell
  • appetite changes
  • neck and shoulder pain that happens a lot
  • other unexplained hods pain
  • ringing in the cars
  • hearing loss
  • bothered by noises
  • can't handle normal background noise
  • feels too hot
  • feels too cold
  • doesn't feel temperature al all
  • blurry vision
  • seeing double
  • hard to see clearly (hard to focus)
  • bothered by lightPicture of touching something

Sleep Problems

  • can't sleep through the night
  • sleeps too much
  • days and nights get mixed up

Pain Problems

  • neck and shoulder pain that happens a lot
  • other unexplained body pain

Picture of an ear as it is hearing

 

These problems don't happen often. If your child has any of them, see your doctor right away.

  • severe headache that does not go away or get better
  • seizures: eyes fluttering, body going stiff, staring into space
  • child forgets everything, amnesia
  • hands shake. tremors, muscles


BEHAVIOR and FEELINGS

Changes in personality, mood or behavior

  • is irritable, anxious, restless
  • gets upset or frustrated easily
  • overreacts, cries or laughs too easily
  • has mood swings
  • wants to be alone or away from people
  • is afraid of others, blames others
  • wants to be taken care of
  • does not know how to act with people
  • takes risks without thinking first
  • is sad, depressed
  • doesn't want to do anything, can't "get started"
  • is tired, drowsy
  • is slow to respond
  • trips, falls, drops things, is awkward
  • eats too little, eats all the time, or eats things that aren't food
  • has different sexual behavior (older children)
  • starts using or has a different reaction to alcohol or drugs
  • takes off clothes in public

THINKING PROBLEMS

  • has trouble remembering things
  • has trouble paying attention
  • reacts slowly
  • thinks slowly
  • takes things too literally, doesn't get jokes
  • understands words but not their meaning
  • thinks about the same thing over and over
  • has trouble learning new things
  • has trouble putting things in order (desk, room, papers)
  • has trouble making decisions
  • has trouble planning, starting, doing, and finishing a task
  • has trouble remembering to do things on time
  • makes poor choices (loss of common sense)

TROUBLE COMMUNICATING

  • changes the subject, has trouble staying on topic
  • has trouble thinking of the right word
  • has trouble listening
  • has trouble paying attention, can't have long conversations
  • does not say things clearly
  • has trouble reading
  • talks too much
WHAT TO DO:

If your child has any of the problems on this list, and they don't go away:

Ask your child's doctor to have your child seen by a specialist in head injury who can help your child learn skills (rehabilitation).

Ask your child's doctor to have your child seen by a Board-certified Neuropsychologist. This specialist can help you understand and deal with your child's behavior and feeling changes.

Call the Tennessee Traumatic Brain Injury Program for more information:

1-800-882-0611

We have only listed the problems we see most often when a child's brain is hurt. Not every problem that could happen is on this list.

If your child’s head has been hurt,
Project BRAIN encourages you to tell school staff.

Spanish versions are available upon request of this publication. “When Your Child’s Head Has Been Hurt.” Send contact information to paula_d@tndisability.org.

Click for Print-Friendly Version Print-Friendly Version Arrow - Back To Top Of Page Back To Top
Bobby AAA Icon
Bobby Approved		 Bobby WorldWide Approved 508 Icon
Bobby WorldWide
Approved 508 		 

Tennessee Disability Coalition • 955 Woodland Street • Nashville, TN 37206