Neurology of Trauma

A child required several surgeries prior to the age of 3. The post-surgical recoveries were painful and required periods of separation from his parents. Now, at age 8, this child is overwhelmed with feeling unsafe and afraid whenever passing by the hospital where these surgeries occurred, although he does not have memories of the hospitalization that he is able to share.

A 12-year-old youth with IDD has been admitted to the IBSRAO ICF program. She has had difficulty with remaining regulated in school and at home with her behaviors becoming increasingly unsafe for herself or others. She did not want to stay at the ICF and became quite upset when her parents left. Shortly after the family left, she withdrew to her bedroom. Staff found that while in her bedroom, the youth became incontinent, wetting her clothing. When asked what had happened, she was unable to explain.

Jacklyn is in a 5th grade class that frequently uses partners and small group activities. Jacklyn does quite well when she works independently on a task, but when with a partner or in group work, she quickly becomes agitated and disruptive of the process and is unable to continue working with others after a few minutes.

Carter often retreats to his bedroom at the ICF when others come into the common areas of the home. Staff would like to engage him and encourage him to come watch a movie with them. As other youth and staff come to join in watching the movie, the sounds in the room escalate, movement increases, people come into his personal space, and the smell of popcorn enters the room. Cater begins to rock faster and faster until he jumps up, pushes someone in his way, and heads for his room.