Shaken Baby
Syndrome has only recently begun to be recognized as a severe and critical
condition. As the name indicates, this condition occurs when a child is
subjected to forceful shaking. The parents or the care provider of the child
may become frustrated, and as a result, they may shake the infant. Shaking an
infant, even for only a few seconds, may result in extensive and irreversible
injury.
A child who
is suffering from Shaken Baby Syndrome and survives through the initial trauma
will experience crippling physical and mental disabilities. The infant may or
may not show physical indicators that they have been subjected to this trauma.
Because of the harmful consequences of this condition, many states have
developed laws specifically related to this syndrome. Various organizations
have been established in order to help raise awareness about it, as well as to
develop programs that help in the prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome.
Background
Shaken Baby Syndrome has a very short history
compared to many other severe diseases and conditions. It has only been
receiving public attention for less than fifty years, though it was occurring
long before this. Shaken Baby Syndrome was first described about seventy years
ago, and it took roughly thirty more years for this condition to receive
recognition from medical professionals, research professionals, and the media.
Within the
last forty years, many cases have surfaced that have brought national attention
to this condition and have raised concerns about the effects of this syndrome.
As a result of the negative consequences that occur due to violently shaking a
child, many states have begun to develop child abuse laws that are specifically
aimed at preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome from occurring. The public has finally
begun to take notice of this severe condition. However, more needs to be done
to prevent it from occurring. A great deal of research is continuing to take
place in order to better understand the effects of this type of abuse.
Causes
Shaken Baby Syndrome is a severe consequence of
subjecting a child to violent shaking or throwing. In many cases, an individual
does not intend to subject a child to harm. However, their actions can be
extremely detrimental to a child’s health and development.
Shaken Baby
Syndrome usually occurs due to stress or frustration. It may occur because an
individual becomes annoyed with the behavior of an infant and resorts to
shaking the child in order to make the infant stop this behavior. The physical
trauma that is caused to the child is a result of the slow development of the
child’s key organ. The time that it takes for a child’s brain to develop and to
grow to a normal size leaves the child susceptible to the severe and
irreversible injuries that can be caused by shaking the child.
Shaken Baby
Syndrome very rarely occurs due to accidents. However, there are some actions
that may result in a child sustaining the injuries that are associated with
this syndrome. In most cases, Shaken Baby Syndrome occurs because of one
thoughtless and irresponsible action by an adult. This one action can instantly
change the life of the child and the child’s family.
Effects
Many people are not aware of the extremely harmful
effects that may occur due to shaking a child. A child may be subjected to
shaking for only a few seconds, but these few seconds are long enough to
inflict the child with permanent and severe damage. Shaking a child will result
in the bruising of the child’s brain and will cause permanent brain damage.
Children who
survive forceful shaking may never have the ability to lead a normal life. A
child who was perfectly happy and healthy will sustain extensive physical and
mental disabilities. They may be unable to carry out normal motor function, and
they may lose many of the senses that most individuals enjoy. These children
will require constant care for the rest of their lives due to mental
retardation and physical disabilities.
A child who
is suffering from Shaken Baby Syndrome may develop conditions that make normal
physical activity impossible. In many cases, the result of shaking a child will
result in much more serious consequences. Shaking an infant will destroy any
normal future that the child may have had, and it will cause heartbreak and
pain for the child’s family.
Signs and Prevention
In some cases, a child may not display many
physical indicators that they have suffered from forceful shaking. However, in
other instances, an infant that has been shaken may display a vast array of
signs that they have been subjected to this type of abuse. A child may display
both physical and behavioral indicators that they are suffering from Shaken
Baby Syndrome. Often, a child’s personality will be noticeably altered due to the
injuries that they have sustained. A child may not appear to be as energetic or
active as they usually are. Many of the physical signs will be indicative of
brain trauma.
A child who
is suffering from Shaken Baby Syndrome will display a variety of physical
symptoms in the area of their head. The effects of this type of abuse are
extremely horrific, and many programs have been developed in order to prevent
it from occurring. Shaken Baby Syndrome is a completely preventable condition.
Educating the public, as well as new parents, is one method of helping to
prevent infants from being subjected to Shaken Baby Syndrome. If individuals
are aware the negative consequences of shaking a child, then they will be less
likely to take part in this detrimental behavior.
Statistics
The statistics regarding Shaken Baby Syndrome
illustrate a very dismal and tragic story. Far too many infants are being
exposed to behavior that leaves them with permanent and extensive brain trauma.
In most instances, a child who survives this abuse is left with severe mental
and physical disabilities. The majority of children who experience injuries due
to being violently shaken will never recover from these injuries.
Most of the
children who are exposed to this abuse will experience consequences that are
much worse than physical disability. In most cases, the individual that is
responsible for subjecting the child to this horrific form of abuse is a person
who should be most concerned with the health and the well-being of the child.
Statistics
regarding the occurrence of Shaken Baby Syndrome, as well as information
related to death due to this syndrome, may not be accurate. Shaken Baby
Syndrome may be misdiagnosed because the symptoms may resemble those of other
diseases or conditions. Reviewing the statistics related to Shaken Baby
Syndrome may help individuals to become aware of how severe and detrimental
this type of abuse is. Information is continuing to be collected on this
condition so that we may have a better understanding of Shaken Baby Syndrome.
Legislative Focus
Shaken Baby Syndrome is a very harsh and harmful
condition that thousands of infants are inflicted with every year. This form of
abuse causes children to face some of the most cruel consequences of physical
altercations. A child who is suffering from Shaken Baby Syndrome will suffer
from irreversible and crippling brain damage. This damage will cause a child to
experience extensive physical and mental disabilities. These disabilities will
prevent a child from ever living a normal life. They will need to be provided
with constant care from another individual.
As a result
of these extremely harmful consequences, Shaken Baby Syndrome has begun to be
the focus of new child abuse legislation. Many states have begun to develop
laws related specifically to Shaken Baby Syndrome. Many of these laws focus on
mandatory education of new parents, as well as the education of health
professionals. Education is often the key to prevention and many states realize
that this is the most effective way to decrease the instance of Shaken Baby Syndrome.
National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome
The National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome is a
non-profit organization that is aimed at educating both professionals and
parents about the causes and the effects of Shaken Baby Syndrome. The Center
has created a variety of different programs that focus on understanding this
form of abuse and preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome from occurring. Many of these
programs are specialized in order to provide individuals in specific situations
with the tools and the skills that they need in order to effectively raise a
child. Many of these programs focus on teaching individuals how to successfully
cope with the stresses of parenting and how to deal with frustration without
resorting to aggression.
The National
Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome is also responsible for hosting the world’s
largest conference dedicated to Shaken Baby Syndrome and brain trauma. The
Center is helping to make great progress in educating individuals about Shaken Baby
Syndrome, as well as in creating programs that assist in preventing this type
of abuse from occurring.
The Shaken Baby Alliance
The Shaken Baby Alliance is a very successful and
productive organization that has been formed out of the pain and the negative
experience of mothers who have suffered from Shaken Baby Syndrome. The Alliance
seeks to educate the public and professionals about Shaken Baby Syndrome,
including the causes and the effects of this condition.
The Shaken
Baby Alliance provides individuals with a variety of different services,
including case consultations for criminal justice professionals that are
involved in cases regarding child abuse. One of the resources that the Alliance
provides individuals with, that other organizations do not, is the personal
stories and pictures from families that have had a child die from this
condition. These stories illustrate the consequences of Shaken Baby Syndrome in
a very effective way. The Alliance distributes resources to people in order to
help educate them about the condition. The founders of this organization have
taken their negative experiences and have used them as a way to help other
families.
