Blog

Child Injury

• Your Kansas City Child is Never Too Young to Learn Pedestrian Safety

View All

Children and Dog Attacks- The Emotional Scars

Kansas City children who have been the victims of a dog bite attack face a long road of recovery in terms of physical injuries, like facial scars. There are other injuries children suffer that may not be as obvious. Even for a child who has only witnessed a dog bite attack, the emotional injuries can have far reaching effects.

Fear, anxiety, and depression may plague the child involved - whether victim or witness. Emotional trauma can appear right after the attack, or it may take some time to manifest. The emotional memory from the attack may lead to the development of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), even in younger children. PTSD can develop at any age; some scientists believe the likelihood is greater in younger children.

After witnessing an act of violence or being the victim of the attack, young children develop dangerous conclusions about the event. Young children try to make sense of the event, which may cause emotional scarring as their thinking patterns convince them of things that are simply not true. For example, a youngster who has been attacked by a dog might go around thinking that his world is inherently unsafe. He may also conclude that the dog bite attack was somehow his fault, causing him to view himself as a bad child. He will find a connection between his own perceived misbehavior and the fault for the attack. Such conclusions carry emotional scars for children that may follow them for the rest of their lives.

Children preschool age and younger may exhibit separation anxiety and excessive clinging to parents. Little ones may whimper and tremble as well as show signs of regression, such as thumb sucking, bedwetting, and fears of being in the dark. Additionally, small children under five are greatly affected by the reactions they see in their parents and caregivers.

Elementary school aged children (six to eleven years old) tend to withdraw and act out after a major emotional trauma. Their school work and social lives often suffer. They may also resort to regressive behaviors as a means of coping. Children in this age group complain of phantom body aches, stomach problems and other symptoms that are medically baseless. Irrational fears and nightmares surface as well. Depression and anxiety may plague them following the violent dog attack. Outbursts and fighting, as well as refusals to attend school may also result in the aftermath of an attack.

Teens and older children tend to react like adults to emotional trauma with flashbacks and nightmares. Teens are also susceptible to substance abuse issues, anti-social behavior, and social withdrawal. Like their younger counterparts, teens mat see a dramatic change in their school attendance and academic performance as they try to deal with the emotional fallout. Isolation, suicidal thoughts, and sleep disturbances are likely as well. Many teens find themselves plagued with guilt and fear over the incident.

PTSD is likely when nightmares, flashbacks, and reactions of distress occur in situations that mirror the dog attack. Avoidance of reminders of the attack can signal PTSD. Sleep disturbances, regression, uncharacteristic irritability, and difficulty concentrating are other hallmark symptoms of the condition. When these signs or a general numbness linger for a month or longer, it is time to consult with a health care professional over the possibility that the child is suffering from PTSD.

Psycho therapy and medication can help relieve the symptoms of PTSD. Following the dog attack, it is essential to place children in the hands of qualified mental health specialists who can guide the child along the road to healing. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), for example, equips young emotional trauma patients with new skills that will help them to overcome their depression, anxiety, and irrational fears. Play therapy is effective for young children suffering from PTSD following a dog attack. This approach helps little ones express feelings about the event and come to terms with the memories.

Further therapies may be necessary to treat specific symptoms, such as depression and grief. Medications may prove effective in children and adolescents with PTSD; researchers continue to study their usefulness. Long term efforts are likely as the youngest victims of dog attacks struggle to overcome the emotional scars left behind.

The Kansas City child injury attorneys at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys offer a no cost, no obligation consultation to help the victims of dog bite attacks and their families sort through the questions they may face about their rights. Call 888-348-2616 to schedule your consultation. For more information, download your free copy of the resource guide 10 Essential Steps You Must Take To Protect Your Injury Claim.

Just Ask

Free Consumer Guides

Testimonials

• I’m highly satisfied, I would call Victor again. I needed his help, and he has been a great attorney. I’m very comfortable recommending victor to other clients. Now that I’m happy with how much he’s helped me, I’m definitely recommending him to anyone that needed his help.
• Heather was very nice and polite and very informative. Heather was very responsive when I asked her questions and very informative. Yes, she was very aggressive with the insurance company. She was very aggressive trying to get a higher amount. Yes she was very nice. She is very informative and knows what she is doing.
• It was great to work with Heather, she kept me informed about everything, the dos and the don’ts and what everything was and kept me on track. she was very professional she told you what was going on, she kept you a breast of everything that was going on, she was an excellent lawyer. Ms Heather and the whole staff at the Accident Injury firm, I would recommend them to anybody across the world, that they are excellent, honest attorneys.

View All

Latest News

• Posted on 5/8/2012Toddler Struck and Killed on Blue Parkway in Kansas City
• Posted on 4/30/2012School being Investigated when 5 year-old Girl Suffers Injury after being Kicked into Window

View All

FAQs

Child Injury

• What should I do if my teenage child is hurt at work? Could a child recover damages for an occupational accident injury, and could a Kansas City personal injury attorney help?

View All

Web Resources

• Child Injury

more