London - All mums and dads worry about their children banging their heads in case it causes a serious injury.
But such an accident can also harm the bond between parent and child, scientists warn.
Around one in 50 under-fives a year suffer concussion, but there has been little research into its effects. Now a study has found it can damage the youngsters’ social interactions – including with their parents.
As good parent-child relationships are linked to better social skills later in life, the scientists warn this could have a lasting impact on the child.
The Canadian team therefore warn parents to watch closely for behavioural changes in their child if they suffer a minor brain injury.
Researcher Miriam Beauchamp, a psychiatrist at Montreal University, said: “The young brain is particularly vulnerable to injury because the skull is still thin and malleable.
“In the months following the injury one of the first visible signs of social difficulties in young children is a decline in their relationship with their parents.”
The study said the rate of concussion is particularly high in under-fives – around two percent of them a year. It is thought that concussion at this age could slow the development of new abilities, such as communication skills.
The study, published in the Journal of Neuropsychology, looked at 130 children aged 18 months to five years – some who had concussion, others with an orthopaedic injury such as a fracture and a control group of healthy youngsters. The scientists assessed parent-child interactions for six months by filming families doing typical activities such as playing and snack time.
They also asked parents to evaluate their relationship with their child in questionnaires.
They found the quality of these interactions for youngsters who had had concussion were “significantly reduced” compared to the other children.
The study’s lead author Gabrielle Lalonde, a doctoral student, said: “Given parent-child interactions are influenced by behavioural dispositions of both the parent and the child, more research is required to identify the factors underlying this decline.
“It may be due to specific neurological mechanisms, to changes in parenting or to stress caused by the injury.” Identifying these factors will allow them to develop more targeted ways to help families, she added.
Daily Mail