BRAIN INJURY????

[girlibird]

Please can some one advise me, know body else will help and i am at a lose end.. 3 years ago my son fell off a sea-saw at nursery and suffered a massive blow to the back of his head, which caused him to have a nose bleed.. after i received the call i rushed him to the hospital, all they did was send him home and told me to watch out for a few symptoms which he never got so i thought all was well!!!

well a year on and still too this day he is having really bad behavour problems. i will list what his doing etc..

BITING
SHOUTING
THREATENING BEHAVOUR-TRYING TO ATTCK PEOPLE IF ASKED TO DO SOMETHING
NO SENSE OF DANGER RUNNING INTO ROADS
DOES NOT LISTEN TO INSTRUCTIONS
THROWS TANTRUMS-BUT TO AN EXTREME WHERE NURSERY STAFF HAVE TO RESTRAIN HIM!
HIS SPEECH IS SLURRED
HE DOES NOT LISTEN OR DO AS HIS TOLD
HE CANT SHARE VERY WELL
HE TALKS TO HIMSELF WHEN HIS BEEN TOLD OFF
HE THROWS THINGS ROUND THE ROOM
HE SLAMS DOORS AND KICKS DOORS

and the list could go on!!

i have read on the internet about TBI.. i was wondering if you could assist me with finding out more information regarding this. and if its possible he could in deed have problems due to that blow to the head.. im on my own dealing with this and i dont know where to turn.. how could i arrange a ct scan to see if there has been any damage?

[specialmom]

Here are some ideas of things that calm the nervous system.  They often refer to it as "heavy work" when you google sensory integration disorder and you can get a pretty good list of things to do by doing that as well.  But physical activity is really important.  Going to a park and climbing on the play sets, running on a hard surface, rolling down a hill, jumping off of things, hanging from a bar and swinging are all good.  Jumping on a trampoline or a mattress placed on the ground is good.  Swimming is the perfect combination of muscle work and deep pressure.  Fill a laundry basket up with something heavy and have him push it across the floor.  Lay him down on his belly and roll a big ball over him (like an exercise ball or over sized ball)----  we call that the steam roller.  Play sumo wrestler and place the ball between you and he and have him push against the ball (and against you then) as hard as he can.  Tape a piece of paper to the wall and have him color on it upright (uses a lot of core muscles believe it or not) or have him draw on and then erase a chalkboard or dry erase board.  An easel for this is great.  Any type of linear movement------ like bike riding is good.  Carry a weighted bag across the room as a "favor" to help you.  Blow bubbles is soothing or have a race and blow a cotton ball across the table with a straw cut in half.  Set up an obstacle course and make part of it for him to crawl through.  Do an "army boot camp" complete with push ups, army crawl, and a little kick boxing.  (yes, my two boys have LOTS of muscles for age 4 and 6).  Take all the pillows and cushions of your couch and from around the house and put them in a pile.  Have him crawl through it and gently push on it.  We play mouse and he pops up through a hole and I go after him and push him down the hole or I will hide the cheese and the mouse finds it.  

For speech, turn on music and make funny faces and freeze them.  Make it a silly game but it works the face muscles.  Have him trace his tongue over his lips, teeth or go from side to side and up and down.  Have him drink a thick liquid through a straw such as a thick smoothie, milkshake or applesauce.  Speak slowly and clearly and have him watch you say things he articulates wrong.  

These are just a few of the ideas, let me know if you need anymore.  My son gets a little hyped up while doing some of them but the after affect is calm and it can be lasting.  We keep our boy regulated this way.  good luck

[specialmom]

My child will pile up things like full trashcans at the end of the drive way and ride his bike down the incline full speed into them.  Need I say more . . .  He craves impact which the occupational therapist call "input".  My job is to find safe ways for him to get the same feeling.  Not a fun job, mind you.

A child can have both or either alone.  It seems to me that when a child has sensory integration along with something else that sensory is secondary but I don't know if there is any science to back that up.  An occupational therapist can tell the two apart.  It becomes more clear as a child gets older.  

[Sandman2]

I agree completely that a lot of the symptoms are the same.  I was kinda focusing on the amount of accidents the child has had.  Did your child have similar problelms?  And I suppose that a child could have both?

[specialmom]

Sandman--------  you are king!  You give such valuable information.  But I will say that almost all of those are symptoms of sensory integration as well.  That is what is tricky----  knowing the difference.

[Sandman2]

Kids with ADHD get injured a lot!  Usually it happens because they act before they think - and, of course, they are always on the go.  So you might want to check out that possibility.  I have listed some of the symptoms from the medhelp site.  You can always check out the ADHD forum for more answers.
   Inattention symptoms:

   1. Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork
   2. Difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play
   3. Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
   4. Does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace
   5. Difficulty organizing tasks and activities
   6. Avoids or dislikes tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as schoolwork)
   7. Often loses toys, assignments, pencils, books, or tools needed for tasks or activities
   8. Easily distracted
   9. Often forgetful in daily activities

Hyperactivity symptoms:

   1. Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat
   2. Leaves seat when remaining seated is expected
   3. Runs about or climbs in inappropriate situations
   4. Difficulty playing quietly
   5. Often "on the go," acts as if "driven by a motor," talks excessively

Impulsivity symptoms:

   1. Blurts out answers before questions have been completed
   2. Difficulty awaiting turn
   3. Interrupts or intrudes on others (butts into conversations or games

  From:  http://www.medhelp.org/medical-information/show/2157/Attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-ADHD?page=1#sec_3761

[benjimom]

Sounds tough, I would call your pediatrician and tell them what is going on.  You could always get a CT scan for him to see if his brain is okay.  The first daycare does not sound like a very safe place!!  

[girlibird]

if you could supply me with activities or straregies i would be very grateful i love my boy to peices si i just want to try everything untill i know his back to hs old loving happy self xx

[specialmom]

Well look at sensory integration disorder but I also wonder if the old daycare is having an affect as well.  It sounds like it may have been traumatic in a few ways for him and that he may have learned a bit of behavior there.  Then you will have to undo that.  Always stay very calm with him yourself and model appropriate ways to act when frustrated and angry.  Please let me know if you would like any other information on activities or strategies to try.  I'm happy to help!  good luck

[girlibird]

Hii thanks for you reply i will have a look into this... i forgot to put his age on here.. he fell off sea*saw ehenn he was nearly 2 years old.. his now 4 and a half..and in a different nursery due too all the accidents he received whilest in there care!! broken nose fractured finger bite marks every day etc etc etc... this nursery has involved a support worker whoi is trying her hardest toi figure out whats wrong.. but i will definatly have a look into  sensory integration disorder  thanks

[specialmom]

Hm.  If you live in the US you could take him to his pediatrician and discuss your concerns.  You can ask about a ct scan or whatever other tests the physician feels could be helpful.

I don't know what is going on here.  I'm trying to gage your son's age-------  is he 5 or 6?  Does he receive services in school or are they noticing these problems and what do they say about them?

My son has a developmental delay called sensory integration disorder.  Basically a part of his brain doesn't function correctly and it affects his nervous system.  His nervous system affects everything from motor planning (speech and fine motor and really EVERYTHING else), to how he understands where he is in space, to regulation of mood, to sensitivity to touch, sensitivity to noise, sensitivity to light, etc.  On the mild end, some of the things that you mention are symptoms.  Look up sensory integration disorder and see what you think.  Sensory is treated with occupational therapy and lots of physical activity or "heavy work" as well as behavioral modifications.  It sounds like your son would benefit from speech therapy as well.  Articulation problems are common motor planning issues.  My son is doing really well with the approach we have taken.  Even if your son does not have sensory, there are many behavioral modifications that can work.  We use them with our younger son too!  Let me know if you'd be interested in any of this type of information

But a brain injury can result in some long term affects such as you describe. Occupational therapists are the ones that often handle such injuries.  Good luck