A recent study found a connection between a child suffering from a traumatic brain injury early on in life, and future cognitive delays and deficits. This research suggests that the effects of brain injuries on children lasts longer, and is more severe, than once thought.

It is important to note that in this study researchers followed children who suffered from traumatic brain injuries, typically caused by falling or a car accident. This study did not include those children who suffered from a bump or mild concussion.

The study looked at a group of 40 children between the ages of 2 and 7, and compared their behavioral, cognitive and social skills against a group of 16 children who had not been injured. These skills were also tested in intervals three months, 18 months, five years and 10 years after the initial brain injury.

A lag in high learning skills was among the most noted when it comes to children with traumatic brain injuries. These skills include organization and reasoning.

When looking at why some children still have cognitive effects 10 years after a traumatic brain injury, one researcher points to the fact that the child's brain was still developing at the time of the injury. Additionally, the injury causes a lag in development, which in some cases results in the child never being able to catch up to those children who were not injured.

However, when it comes to recovery, the same group of researchers found that the level of care after the injury can make a real difference when it comes to improved cognitive function.

This shows the importance of making sure that a child receives rehabilitative care after an accident. Of course, this care can often times be very expensive. Fortunately, in cases where the brain injury was caused by someone else's negligence, it may be possible to hold that person liable in order to receive compensation to go toward medical and rehabilitative care.

Source: TIME, "Study: Brain Injuries in Childhood Have Lasting Effects on Learning," Alice Park, Jan. 23, 2012