Unfortunately for thousands of children in Texas, the abuse doesn't. Last year in Texas alone more than 45,000 children were victims of child abuse and neglect, a third of them suffering from some type of deliberate physical abuse. However, in many cases the physical abuse isn't premeditated. Shaken Baby Syndrome is a growing problem in which infants are punished to the point of death, just for crying, because an adult temporarily loses control. Shaken Baby Syndrome most often occurs when a care giver becomes frustrated with a crying baby.
Babies have large, heavy heads and weak, underdeveloped neck muscles.
The whiplash action of shaking causes the brain to ricochet about the baby's tiny skull and the blood vessels connecting the brain to the skull to tear. Consequences include brain damage, seizures, paralysis, blindness and death. Shaken Baby Syndrome is a fairly recent diagnosis, no more than 25 years old, and advances in medical technology plus heightened awareness by medical personnel and law enforcement officials have led to an increase in the number of cases. However, many people still do not understand the severity of the problem. To remind parents, babysitters and other care givers of the severe and fatal dangers associated with shaking a child, Dr. Shook offers a few helpful exercises for adults to use when calming a crying baby.