Brain Injury

The following patients are treated in the Brain Injuries Clinic:

• Children suffering from brain injury as a result of trauma
• Children after a cerebrovascular event
• Children after brain surgery
• Children with impaired brain function due to lack of oxygen supply
• Brain damage due neurological or oncology illness.

The assessment includes medical follow-up and monitoring of medicinal therapy, complications such as seizures, development of hydrocephalus, headaches, dizziness, postural and motor dysfunction, activities of daily living, emotional, academic and social difficulties.

During the visit in the multidisciplinary clinic, the patient goes through a number of “stations”. At the end of the day, the team of therapists holds a joint meeting and submits recommendations based on all the information collected.

Consequences of a head injury

In any case of injury or contusion, brain tissue may be damaged. Direct blow will cause hemorrhage and damage to the blood and oxygen supply to the brain.
Damage following a head injury in children has unique characteristics, for example: Accumulation of fluid inside the brain cells, while in adults the fluid accumulates mainly between the cells.

The damage to the young brain may manifest itself in impairment of various abilities as well as in the ability to learn and develop. Impaired learning ability is a direct result of cognitive impairment and impairment of focused abilities such as memory and attention. Beyond the implications of head injury for the immediate degree of functioning, the injury may also have a negative impact on learning abilities, personal development, and the degree of social adjustment. Since the requirement to solve problems at a young age is limited, the degree of injury may not express itself until puberty.

Sometimes, even a “minor” head injury that did not require prolonged hospitalization can cause problems that require treatment and follow-up. Even in children who have been diagnosed as suffering from a “mild head injury”, might suffer from dysfunction, and it is desirable to monitor their integration into the society. The disorder is manifested in changes in behavior at home, with friends and in the educational setting. The dysfunction may be caused by minimal brain damage that was not detected in the imaging tests and/or a psychological reaction to the event.