How to Choose Services for Yourself and Your Child
Discovering that your baby has suffered a brain injury (BI) can bring up a ton of worries and questions, and possibly too few answers. For instance, how will she be affected by the injury in the long term?
Get A 100% Free CASE EvaluationHow much is it going to cost to care for her? How will you find the financial stability needed to provide for your child? Some of these answers will come down to how you choose services both for you and your child.
What Services Are Typically Available?
Firstly, it is important, as your child grows up, to seek a neuropsychological assessment in order to gain insight into his or her strengths and weaknesses and then use the information to determine the best approach for teaching your child and for his or her treatments.
There are many types of services available to children with brain injuries and their parents. Some of these include:
- Social security benefits
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Surgery
- Special education
- Support groups for parents
- Counselling
What Costs Are Involved for the Care of a Child with a BI?
The National Council on Disability reports that the costs of raising a child who is born with a serious brain injury costs much more than that of bringing up a child that does not have a disability. Most of these expenses involve:
- The initial treatment – in the United States, emergency medical care can be costly, even short hospital stays can cost thousands of dollars. BI victims often require specialized attention from a team of medical professionals.
- Specialized equipment – from life support devices to specialized mobility devices, the medical equipment that you may need to sustain your child can be a financial drain. Buying, maintaining, and upgrading the equipment as needed tends to account for large percentage of costs when raising your child.
- Continuous medical care – BI children require extensive and continuous medical care, medication, and physical therapy. While medical insurance may cover a portion of these costs, the costs that are uncovered add up quickly.
- Accessibility at home – buying a new home or renovating your home as your child grows up and you need to provide an accessible environment can cost a fortune. As your child gets older, his or her needs change, and so must your home.
- Educational services – children who are born with a brain injury or incur one at birth often have learning difficulties that can impact their lives forever. Working through those difficulties requires the assistance of qualified and experienced professionals, such as speech therapists and occupational therapists.
Not only is the cost of raising a child with a brain injury extensive, but so too is the emotional trauma that comes with it, making it essential to carefully review your family and your little one’s needs and services available. Your medical team and counselors can help you choose the best services for your situation – both emotionally and financially.