Brain Damage

The brain is a very complex organ and therefore it takes very little to cause serious damage. Brain damage occurs in many different stages of severity. There are some children who suffer from mild brain damage, while there are other children who suffer from severe, life altering brain damage. As a result of severe brain damage there are some children who require 24-hour care. But what causes brain damage to occur? Can it be prevented? These are the questions that parents ask when they find out that their child has suffered from a birth injury that has caused some form of brain damage.

Medical professionals explain that brain damage can occur in a number of ways and the severity of the damage will depend on the area affected and to what extent. Some of the causes of brain damage are explained below, starting with genetics. Some birth injuries come as a result of some genetic factor that has been passed from the parent to the child. The parent may not have been affected but the child may have inherited a dominant gene and will therefore display the characteristics of suffering from brain damage. When a dysfunctional gene is passed from a parent to the child, the child’s brain is prevented from developing normally and fully, but the extent to which this happens is different in every situation.

Brain damage as a birth injury can come as a result of malpractice on the part of the physician delivering the baby. This could occur before or during birth. If the doctor fails to identify a suspected case of brain damage, or if the doctor fails to do everything he can to ensure the mother has a healthy baby, he can be accused of malpractice. During the birthing process, the doctor can also display negligence that causes the baby to suffer from brain damage. If, while delivering the baby, the doctor uses forceps or a vacuum device he/she is taking the chance of damaging the child’s brain. These instruments are used only when absolutely necessary, as they have been known to cause serious damage. For example, when using a vacuum device the doctor may apply too much force and the nerves of the spinal cord could be stretched and torn more than they should. Doctors need to keep in mind that babies are more fragile than adults and it does not take much to tear or strain something.

While in the womb, babies could suffer from a lack of blood or oxygen flowing to the brain. If this is the case and it goes unidentified for a period of time, the chances of the baby having brain damage are increased. This can be applied to adults as well. If a person goes for an extended period of time without an adequate amount of oxygen and blood getting to the brain there is an increased risk of brain damage occurring. This is why expectant mothers undergo ultra sounds every so often to ensure that everything is going as expected with the baby.

There are several types of brain damage that a child may suffer from. The most common and well-known form of brain damage is cerebral palsy. This is caused by damage to one part of the brain. This type of brain damage can be treated to make life easier for the child, but it cannot be cured. There is no type of brain damage that can be completely cured as of yet, there are only treatments and medications to lessen any pain the child may experience. There are numerous other lesser known types of brain damage that a child can suffer from, each with its own symptoms and characteristics.

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