Understanding the long-term impact of HIE brain injuries on your baby’s development is something that I think needs to be covered more in-depth because for families dealing with a baby with an HIE brain injury figuring out the future can be a challenge. With that said, I am in no way saying that the things that we will be discussing today are all guaranteed to impact your baby; these are some of the things that are reported to us by parents who have children who are facing the same challenges.
When looking at the long-term impact of HIE brain injuries on your baby’s development we will be covering three major areas. As I will repeat later in this post, the severity of the injury will play an important role in understanding how much of a challenge your baby will face in these areas.
Long Term Impact Of HIE Brain Injuries On Your Baby’s Development
One of the first areas to review when a baby has an HIE brain injury is motor impairments. Parents might notice that their baby has trouble or struggles to control their movements. Motor impairments can lead to difficulties with things like coordination and balance. Fine motor skills might also be impacted by the HIE injury.
For some babies who have an HIE brain injury, a subsequent cerebral palsy, or CP diagnosis might occur. CP is a movement disorder. There is still no guarantee that a baby who is diagnosed with HIE will go on to develop CP, as that is something that I want to make clear. The area(s) of the brain that has been injured will play a role in figuring out if a CP diagnosis is probable.
The second area of concern when a baby has an HIE brain injury is whether there are cognitive deficits and to what extent. When we are discussing cognitive deficits, we are talking about things like memory, attention span, and problem-solving skills. All these things can be impacted when there is an HIE brain injury.
Parents may especially notice cognitive deficits as their child ages and interacts in an academic setting. For babies who have a mild injury this area can especially be missed until the baby is older.
Finally, there may be developmental delays which manifest when a baby has an HIE brain injury. Developmental delays can really be seen when the baby begins to miss certain types of milestones. For example, parents might notice that their baby has trouble crawling, or walking. Delays in talking or having trouble talking can also be a sign of developmental delays. Generally, doctors will note these delays early in the baby’s life.
Finally, if it is suspected that your baby has suffered a brain injury, make sure to inquire into whether a head CT and MRI will be performed. These imaging studies can be extremely helpful in treating a gathering more information regarding a potential brain injury.
If you have more questions about your baby’s HIE brain injury at birth you can reach me at my contact info below. Remember there’s no monetary cost to speak with me initially about your baby’s story.
Marcus B. Boston, Esq.
9701 Apollo Dr. Suite 100
Largo, Maryland 20774
301-850-4832
1-833-4 BABY HELP
