Recognizing the Warning Signs of Shaken Baby Syndrome
Recognizing warning signs is crucial when a case worker is investigating whether a child might be a victim of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS). According to the Cleveland Clinic (2022) article, SBS is typically caused by violent shaking, which leads to severe injuries such as brain swelling, bruising, and bleeding. A case worker should be attentive to physical and behavioral symptoms that suggest SBS.
First, case workers should observe physical signs such as unusual bruising, especially on the childs arms or chest, and head swelling. A large forehead or bulging soft spots (fontanelles) on the top of the infants head may indicate brain swelling. Other physical signs include bruises around the neck and chest and fractures, especially in the ribs, collarbone, or arms, which could signal past incidents of abuse or improper handling.
Retinal hemorrhages, or bleeding in the back of the eyes, are another critical indicator of SBS. A case worker should ensure the child has undergone an eye examination to check for this. Fractures and subdural hematomas (blood clots on the brain) are also red flags that suggest SBS and should be confirmed with medical imaging such as X-rays or MRI scans (Cleveland Clinic, 2022).
On the behavioral side, a case worker should note if the child displays extreme irritability, difficulty staying awake (lethargy), or cannot lift their head. Additionally, vomiting, seizures, poor appetite, and difficulty breathing are symptoms that may arise immediately after the child has been shaken.
Lastly, a case worker should be aware that the perpetrator of SBS is often an overwhelmed caregiver. Its common for SBS to occur when the caregiver becomes frustrated with a babys persistent crying. Understanding the family dynamics, stressors, and caregiver behavior is vital in identifying the risk factors for SBS.
By being vigilant about these signs, case workers can more effectively assess and intervene in suspected SBS cases, helping to protect vulnerable children from further harm.
References
Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Shaken Baby Syndrome. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/13779-shaken-baby-syndrome
Caregiver Burnout and Compassion Fatigue Caregiver Compassion Fatigue Those who care for others as part of their professional duties must understand the nature of caregiver fatigue and the basics of caring for oneself. Generally, the focus of a caregiver remains on the care recipient to such a degree that personal limitations are ignored and self-care principles are shunted to the background. Caregivers rarely have realistic expectations about the long-term impact of caregiving,
Caregiver Interview as Related to Physical Therapy The objective of this study is to determine what types of psychosocial issues arise for individuals who render primary care to a PWD on a routine basis, and to determine how these caregivers cope with the stress of their responsibilities. This will involve an interview. The interview in this study is conducted with a woman who will be known in this study as Karen Hill,
Caregivers of individuals with AD Caregivers of Individuals with Alzheimer's Disease Alzheimer's disease is a terribly debilitating disease that strikes older adults and for which there is no known cure. According to the Institute on Aging, Alzheimer's disease is "an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest tasks." (2012, p.1) Alzheimer's disease is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer.
There are certainly different approaches to the theory of anticipatory mourning. Clearly, one of the major issues within the literature surrounds the communication between the dying person and the caregiver, and both caregiver and patient and those who will be most affected or will mourn their loss. Conventional theory finds that preparing for loss involves experiencing most of the features of grief prior to the demise of the patient; numbness,
caregivers of those with dementia through a structure process of information giving. The goal is to determine specifically what information those that care for people with dementia want at the time of diagnosis. It is also necessary to examine the discrepancies between the information that these individuals receive and the information that they actually need to care for the individual in the best way possible. The primary question dealt
caregivers face when it comes to differentiating between dementia, delirium, and depression due to overlap of depression and delirium in older people. Some symptoms that accompany depression are also pronounced in dementia (Peacock, Hopton, Featherstone & Jill, 2012). These include withdrawal and sleepiness. This overlap creates some problem when it comes to differentiating the two. Problem in this study and the purpose for which it was commissioned is clearly stated.
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now