Cerebral palsy is a term used to describe a range of disabilities pertaining to an individual’s gross motor function. It can affect a person’s:
- Ability to sit
- Ability to walk and move
- Live independently
Based on children enrolled in Medicaid in 2005, the medical costs for children with cerebral palsy were 10 times higher than the costs for children without cerebral palsy or intellectual disabilities. The costs of children who suffered from both cerebral palsy as well as an intellectual disability were 26 times higher than for children without either. Estimates of the lifetime care costs for individuals with cerebral palsy were as high as $1 million in 2003 ($1.4 million today). Other estimates of the combined lifetime costs for all individuals with cerebral palsy born over the last two decades will total roughly $12 billion in direct and indirect costs, a huge burden on the economy and specifically on the families of the affected individuals.
If your child or a loved one suffers from cerebral palsy, we can help. Call us for a free, no-obligation consultation and evaluation of your case at (800) 222-9529. Depending on the causes of the cerebral palsy in question, you may be entitled to compensation, and as birth injury experts, based on the specifics of your case, we can conduct an investigation, collect evidence, and file a claim on your behalf to help you secure the finances and damages you deserve as a result of your child’s cerebral palsy.
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Classifying Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is classified on a scale of one to five. The higher the level, the more severe is the disability.
- Level 1: The patient can walk without any serious limitations.
- Level 2: The patient can walk long distances without serious limitations cannot run or jump and may require assistive devices such as leg or arm braces when they first begin to walk. They also may require a wheelchair to get around when they are outside their home.
- Level 3: The patient can sit with little support and stand without any support but they may require assistive devices such as a walker or a cane while walking indoors and a wheelchair to get around while outside the home.
- Level 4: The patient can walk using an assistive device but they require support when sitting.
- Level 5: The patient requires support to maintain the position of their head and neck. They also require support to sit and stand and may or may not be able to control a motorized wheelchair.
To determine the severity of your child’s cerebral palsy, your doctor may refer you to a specialist or recommend tests to properly diagnose the illness.
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Causes of Cerebral Palsy
The leading causes of cerebral palsy include all of the following:
- Brain damage sustained before, during, or soon after birth
- Loss of oxygen or blood supply during birth
- Infections in the mother or baby
- Medical negligence that results in brain damage, such as the incorrect use of delivery equipment or diagnostic or administrative errors
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Diagnosing Cerebral Palsy
Diagnosing cerebral palsy involves taking a complete medical history, performing a physical exam, and evaluating the patient’s symptoms. It may also involve:
- Conducting an electroencephalogram (EEG) test to evaluate the brain’s electrical activity, often used when the patient exhibits signs of epilepsy or has seizures.
- Conducting an MRI to identify brain injuries or abnormalities.
- Conducting a CT scan to reveal brain damage.
- Obtaining a blood sample to test for infection or bleeding disorders.
Other tests may be conducted by a neurological specialist to detect:
- Loss of vision or impaired vision, such as blurred vision
- Loss of hearing or deafness
- Delays in reaching speech milestones
- Movement disorders
- Intellectual disabilities
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Other Conditions Associated with Cerebral Palsy
Patients suffering from cerebral palsy can exhibit a wide range of additional symptoms, including all of the following:
- Drooling
- Communication difficulties
- Speech and language disorders
- Spinal deformities
- Muscle locking
- Incontinence
- Poor bone density leading to easy brakes and frequent fractures
- Dental issues
Treating Cerebral Palsy
Patients suffering from cerebral palsy, both children as well as adults, often require long-term treatment and medical care, and they may need all of the following:
- Medications to reduce muscle tightness, improve functional abilities, treat pain, and manage other complications.
- Therapy, such as physical therapy to improve strength and flexibility, as well as balance and mobility.
- Speech and language therapy may be required to help your child speak clearly or communicate using sign language. They may also be taught how to use communication devices such as a computer with a voice synthesizer.
- Surgery to realign bones or joints, cut the nerves to dysfunctional muscles or spastic muscles, or to reduce pain and improve mobility.
Coping and Support
Your entire family will likely face new challenges if you have a child diagnosed with cerebral palsy. To care for your child as well as yourself, you can do the following:
- Try to foster your child’s independence by encouraging efforts that exhibit independence, regardless of how small they may be.
- Advocate for your child by speak on their behalf or asking tough questions when it comes to dealing with physicians, therapists, or teachers.
- Find support with groups, organizations, or counseling services, all of which can positively affect your ability to deal with and cope with your child’s illness.
Since cerebral palsy is permanent, dealing with it is a life-long endeavor. However, since the treatment of cerebral palsy and the diagnostic tests needed to properly identify it are costly, families tend to face a great deal of stress when it comes to meeting their financial obligations. Many cases of cerebral palsy are caused by medical negligence in the delivery room, and if your child’s cerebral palsy is such a case, we can help you secure the compensation you are legally entitled to so that you can pay for the care and therapy your child needs and deserves. We offer no-obligation case evaluations at no upfront cost, so call us today to speak with a birth injury legal expert and to initiate the claims process for the damages you deserve. Call now at (800) 222-9529.
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Jackson Law Schools and Universities
| Mississippi College School-Law | 151 E Griffith St, Jackson, MS 39201, United States |
Jackson Law Libraries
| State Law Library | 450 High St, Jackson, MS 39201, United States |
Jackson Hospitals
| Select Specialty Hospital – Jackson | 5903 Ridgewood Rd, Jackson, MS 39211, United States |
| Children’s North Clinic | 5965 I-55, Jackson, MS 39213, United States |
| Jackson Oncology Associates, PLLC | 1860 Chadwick Dr #301, Jackson, MS 39204, United States |
| Merit Health Central | 1850 Chadwick Dr, Jackson, MS 39204, United States |
| UMMC Cancer Institute | 350 W Woodrow Wilson Ave #600, Jackson, MS 39216, United States |
| VETERANS HOSPITAL | 1075 Maderia Ave, Jackson, MS 39203, United States |
| Mississippi Baptist Med Center | 424 Marshall St, Jackson, MS 39202, United States |
| Select Specialty Hospital – Belhaven | 1225 N State St 5th floor, Jackson, MS 39202, United States |
| Restorative Care Hospital | 1225 N State St, Jackson, MS 39202, United States |
| Baptist Medical Center | 1225 N State St, Jackson, MS 39202, United States |
| UMC Cardiology | 2500 N State St, Jackson, MS 39216, United States |
| St. Dominic Hospital | 969 Lakeland Dr, Jackson, MS 39216, United States |
| St. Dominic’s Mississippi Heart and Vascular Institute | 969 Lakeland Dr, Jackson, MS 39216, United States |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2500 N State St, Jackson, MS 39216, United States |
| G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center | 1500 E Woodrow Wilson Ave, Jackson, MS 39216, United States |
| The Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children | 2500 N State St, Jackson, MS 39216, United States |
| St. Dominic Hospital | 2500 N State St, Jackson, MS 39216, United States |
| Children’s of Mississippi | 2500 N State St, Jackson, MS 39216, United States |
| Winfred L Wiser Hospital for Women and Infants | 2500 N State St, Jackson, MS 39216, United States |
Jackson Emergency Rooms
| Merit Health Central – Emergency Room | 1850 Chadwick Dr, Jackson, MS 39204, United States |
| Baptist Medical Center: Emergency Room | 1225 N State St, Jackson, MS 39202, United States |
| Children’s of Mississippi – Emergency Room | 2500 N State St, Jackson, MS 39216, United States |
| St. Dominic Hospital: Emergency Room | 969 Lakeland Dr, Jackson, MS 39216, United States |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center Emergency Room | Emergency Room, 2500 N State St, Jackson, MS 39216, United States |
| G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center: Emergency Room | 1500 E Woodrow Wilson Ave Dr, Jackson, MS 39216, United States |
Jackson Medical Clinics
| Moore Healthy Family Medical Clinic | 5604 Old Canton Rd, Jackson, MS 39211, United States |
| North Jackson Medical Clinic | 5160 Galaxie Dr, Jackson, MS 39206, United States |
| TrustCare | 4880 Interstate 55 North Frontage Rd, Jackson, MS 39211, United States |
| Lefleur Family Medical Clinic | 1420 Old Square Rd, Jackson, MS 39211, United States |
| Jackson Hinds Comprehensive Health Center | 3502 E Northside Dr, Jackson, MS 39213, United States |
| Crossroads Clinic | 350 W Woodrow Wilson Ave, Jackson, MS 39213, United States |
| Family Medicine Center & Employee Quick Care Clinic | Jackson, MS 39216, United States |
| Unacare Clinic | 258 E Fortification St, Jackson, MS 39202, United States |
| St. Dominic’s Chronic Care Clinic | 3800 Interstate 55 North Frontage Rd Suite 102, Jackson, MS 39211, United States |
| MEA Medical Clinics Drug Testing | A, 7 Lakeland Cir #100, Jackson, MS 39216, United States |
| Jackson Free Clinic | 925 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Jackson, MS 39203, United States |
| Baptist Medical Clinic Belhaven | 1200 N State St LL10, Jackson, MS 39202, United States |
| Baptist Health Systems Jackson | 1225 N State St, Jackson, MS 39202, United States |
| Minor Medical Care | 2860 W McDowell Rd, Jackson, MS 39204, United States |
| MEA South Primary Care Plus Clinic | 1777 Ellis Ave, Jackson, MS 39204, United States |
| Jackson Hines Comp Health Centers S | 145 Raymond Rd, Jackson, MS 39204, United States |
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