Shreveport Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

Motor issues stemming from damage to the brain’s gray matter are lumped together as cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a serious disorder that goes beyond affecting an individual’s ability to move or control various parts of his or her body. It can lead to long-term malnutrition, low bone density, frequent fractures, problems with vision and hearing, difficulty breathing, severely restricted independence, and more. The care costs associated with care and treatment for cerebral palsy can be astronomical and the condition is permanent. It has no known cure.

If your child suffered a birth injury, misses important development or growth milestones, or was officially diagnosed with cerebral palsy, we can help. The Birth Injury Lawyers Group helps the families of children diagnosed with birth injuries understand the condition of their loved one, connect with care and treatment centers that can help, and manage a malpractice claim–if one is warranted–so that they can pay for the treatments that their child needs. Call us for a free consultation and case evaluation at (800) 222-9529.

Causes of Birth Injuries

Birth injuries that result in brain damage to babies and infants can occur in multiple ways. The chances that a baby suffers a birth complication or a brain injury comes down to the various risk factors that affect the baby and his or her mother. More risk factors mean a higher incidence rate of cerebral palsy.

Some of the risk factors that can lead to cerebral palsy include:

• High maternal blood pressure
• Intellectual disabilities in the mother
• Doctor inexperience
• Blood clots and brain bleeds
• Oxygen deprivation
• Doctor negligence or medical errors

Identifying when, where, and to what extent the brain was injured is a critical first step in determining the best course of action for your child’s care. The brain is composed of different layers. Damage to the layers closest to the skull–which is called the gray matter of the brain–is what is associated with cerebral palsy. The gray matter controls everything from memories and speech to voluntary movements and intellectual ability. One patient who suffers from brain damage may experience one set of issues whilst another patient exhibits another set, even if both of them suffered similar types of injuries.

This is why a great deal of care must be taken when diagnosing and identifying the type, location, and extent of brain injury a child suffers because treatments tend to focus on helping the patient overcome the symptoms and disabilities that he or she is faced with. Treatments in the past used to focus on rehabilitating injured parts of the body but new approaches to treatment have steered clear of such antiquated practices.

Costs and Treatments

We emphasized the importance of accurate diagnosis of your child’s condition because it will form the basis of all interventional steps that will follow it. However, getting the right diagnosis and then initiating treatments on the basis of that diagnosis can be very expensive. Some of the costs–and losses–associated with treating and diagnosing cerebral palsy are as follows:

• Lost income from missing work while you tend to your injured or disabled child.
• Surgery, medication, and therapy costs.
• Specialist consultations such as speech or social counselor services.
• Diagnostic testing costs.
• Professional screenings such as mental and development screenings.
• Blood tests and imaging studies.
• Assistive device costs to help with patient with mobility.
• Home changes to assist with accessibility.

In terms of treatments, therapy is usually administered in some form or other to cerebral palsy patients. Physiotherapy can help with coordination and strength. Occupational therapy can help with fine motor movements. Speech therapy and emotional counseling can help individuals facing isolation and social stigma learn to live in society.

For serious cases of brain damage or highly pronounced symptoms that severely affect the mobility, independence, and wellbeing of the patient, injections of muscle relaxants can help loosen stiff muscles, and intentional ablation can also be performed. Ablation involves the destruction of nerve cells or nerve fibers to reduce pain and sensory issues in a specific part of the body.

These treatments are very expensive, especially when the patient suffers from co-occurring illnesses such as epilepsy or intellectual disabilities. Co-occurring illnesses can make it substantially harder for the care team to administer care. Some patients who face secondary ailments from their cerebral palsy such as depression can also be unresponsive or even unwilling to participate in rehabilitative treatments. Speak to your doctor about the best course of action and how you can go about helping your child live a full and independent life.

Shreveport Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Near Me 1-800-222-9529

Prognosis and Malpractice Claims

The long-term outlook and prognosis of cerebral palsy depend on the treatments available to your child, when they are initiated, the response of your child to those treatments, and the types of symptoms that are being targeted. Malpractice claims can help if doctor negligence was involved in causing your child’s injuries but cerebral palsy is a permanent illness. Once the developing brain of a baby is injured or sustains physical damage, it usually does not heal. This means the patient will have to live with the condition but may be able to overcome his or her symptoms.

This is why it is important that you file a claim for damages if your case and the circumstances surrounding your child’s delivery and care soon after delivery give you the legal option to do so. Paying for regular treatments, consistent therapy, going to doctor’s visits, undergoing hospitalizations, missing work, and managing the care and supervision of your child is nothing less than a full-time job. Taking on a malpractice claim while juggling all of these competing tasks can be very difficult.

We invite you to call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group at (800) 222-9529 to learn about how we can help you. Let us handle your case for you so that you can focus on caring for your child. We offer services on a contingency-fee basis at no upfront cost so do not hesitate and call today.
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