When the medical team feels your child is ready to leave the hospital, they will provide guidance and direction on your child’s next steps in recovery. The speech-language pathologist and other team members all have input in the therapy and discharge plan.

Discharge from the hospital may happen before your child has completed all stages of recovery, and it's important to remember that every child, injury, and situation is different.

Continued Care After Leaving the Hospital

There are many options for your child to continue to receive therapeutic services and support after your family leaves the hospital.

The following are common options after hospital discharge:

• Inpatient rehabilitation setting
• Outpatient therapies including speech-language, physical or occupational therapy
• Additional support in the school setting

Your child may be discharged home. Rehabilitation may not be recommended, but your child should be monitored for difficulties in the future.

What to Watch for When Your Child Returns Home

Once home, your child may seem back to normal physically; however, your child may still have some difficulty with communication, behavior, or thinking skills.

If your child shows any of these signs, report them to your doctor:

• Headaches
• Tires easily
• Forgets things
• Trouble learning new things
• Acting differently at school
• Difficulty starting or organizing new projects
• Poor judgment
• Cry, laugh, or talk at the wrong times
• Quick mood changes
• Gets frustrated easily
• Difficulty finding the right words
• Shorter attention span
• Changes in hearing or vision

When to Call Your Doctor

Notify your physician immediately if your child demonstrates any of the following behaviors:

• Persistent severe headache
• Seizures: eyes fluttering, body going stiff, staring into space
• Repeated vomiting or nausea
• Loss of consciousness
• Change in vision, speaking, or movement