Shaken baby syndrome is a condition that occurs when a person shakes a baby or a child violently. It is a form of abuse, and knowing how to prevent and avoid shaken baby syndrome is important for parents to know.
What is shaken baby syndrome?
Shaken baby syndrome happens when an adult picks up a baby and shakes them vigorously.
The injuries that babies suffer are potentially more serious because their necks are not strong enough to support the weight of their head.
As a result, the head starts to move violently, causing injury.
As the child is being shaken, the brain hits the inside of the skull.
When this happens, the brain gets damaged and can cause the following problems:
- Hemorrhage or bleeding in the brain. A subdural hematoma might develop, wherein blood deposits in between the brain and the dura, or the outer membrane of the brain.
- Swelling of the brain due to direct trauma, which occurs where the brain hits the skull
- Babies can suddenly stop breathing
- Nerve cell branches in the brain can break off because of the shaking.
Injuries to the child’s neck, ribs, and collarbone are possible as well.
All of these things can result in severe injury, long-term disability, or even death to a child.
Knowing how to avoid shaken baby syndrome is crucial information that parents and caregivers need to know.
What are the long-term effects of shaken baby syndrome?
Children who suffered from shaken baby syndrome usually suffer from its long-term effects.
Here are some of the possible problems that they might have:
Seizures
Because of the damage caused by shaking to the brain, some children develop seizures as a long-term problem. They might suffer from uncontrollable muscle movement, and could find it hard to see, or speak normally.
Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy can be defined as a group of nonprogressive dysfunction of motor movement, posture, and limitation of functional movement. This happens if the child’s brain has been injured, and they are unable to move their muscles normally.
This can also cause muscle weakness due to the lack of movement and exercise in some muscles.
Blindness
Shaken baby syndrome can cause injury in the nerves connected to the eyes, or the part of the brain responsible for sight. As a result, this can cause difficulty seeing, or even blindness.
Learning disabilities
Shaken baby syndrome can also cause learning disabilities in children. Parents usually don’t discover these problems until their child has already started school.
Intellectual disabilities
Intellectual disabilities are also common because of extensive damage to the brain. This can cause problems like delayed development, or below average intelligence.
In some cases, the child might need special care even as an adult, because they are unable to properly take care of themselves.
Learning Disability vs Intellectual Disability – How Are They Different?
