Pediatric Brain Injury

Specialized Care and Rehabilitation With an Individualized Approach

small children on a skateboard

Children have a challenging road ahead when recovering from a traumatic brain injury after they’ve sustained a bump, blow or jolt to the head that disrupts normal brain function. Brain injuries in children are the leading cause of disability and death in young people, particularly those from ages 0 to 4 and 15 to 19.

Request an Appointment

Our pediatricians and pediatric neurologists at RWJBarnabas Health take a multidisciplinary approach when providing young patients with a broad range of medical care and rehabilitative therapies they need to recover.

Our team of specialists carefully assesses the child’s neurological status and function while attending to their medical needs to improve their fine motor function, speech, hearing and intellectual abilities.

Symptoms of Pediatric Brain Injuries

The nature of a child’s head injury and its consequences vary from mild to severe, and the course of recovery can be difficult to predict. The extent and location of the injury will determine the symptoms children have.

Early therapeutic intervention is vital to decrease the severity of symptoms in areas such as cognition, physical abilities, communication and social and behavioral development.

The Brain Injury Association of America reports the physical, cognitive and emotional impairments children may experience after a traumatic brain injury, which could include the following effects:

  • Physical. Children may experience frequent headaches and seizures. They may suffer impairments affecting:
    • Speech
    • Vision
    • Hearing
    • Motor coordination
    • Balance
  • Cognitive. Short-term memory deficits are common in children, as well as impaired concentration and communication. Children often have a more limited attention span and have difficulties with:
    • Planning
    • Writing
    • Reading
    • Making judgments
  • Emotional. After a traumatic brain injury, children often experience:
    • Mood swings
    • Self-centeredness
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Lowered self-esteem
    • Restlessness
    • Lack of motivation
    • Difficulty controlling their emotions

What Does Rehabilitation for a Child with Brain Injury Include?

The impact of brain injuries on children may differ from adults, because children’s brains are still developing.

To develop a treatment plan, a child’s pediatrician and clinical team consider their age, previous functional levels and developmental status.

Physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, neuropsychologists and psychologists may be involved.

The clinicians evaluate the physical, emotional and cognitive functioning following the brain injury, combined with evaluations from other ancillary providers and testing, to come up with a comprehensive plan to help your child resume activities as soon as safely possible.

Rehabilitation will incorporate accommodations, modifications and support into the child’s everyday life in order to maximize recovery.

Request an Appointment

Patient Stories

  • Therapy was always fun. It was never boring and towards the end, my body started to work a little bit. So, when you see your growth over the month, it really boosts confidence.

    Gabriella
    Read More
  • CSH gave Tony back something so simple that we all take for granted daily.

    Tony
    Read More
  • Thank you to the staff and everybody here. You can tell that people love working here. Even the kids are happy and that says a lot given what’s going on. I’m glad we landed here.

    Anthony
    Read More

Patient Stories

  • Watch Testimonial
  • Watch Testimonial
  • Watch Testimonial
Opportunity Project
60 East Willow Street
Millburn, NJ 07041
(973) 921-1000
View
Children's Specialized Hospital
200 Somerset Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(888) 244-5373
View
Trinitas Children's Therapy Services
899 Mountain Ave
Suite 1-A
Springfield, NJ 07081
(973) 218-6394
View

Brain Injury - Pediatric Treatment & Care

offered at these locations in your neighborhood

View All Locations