Cerebral palsy is the term given to a number of musculoskeletal disorders that develop as a result of damage to the brain during development. Most forms of brain damage are permanent. This makes cerebral palsy a permanent illness. It is usually defined as non-progressive. This means the brain lesions that cause it do not worsen over time. However, the symptoms it causes may affect the person’s everyday life differently as they grow and mature.
Families with children diagnosed with cerebral palsy are encouraged to contact a Texas cerebral palsy lawyer by calling the Birth Injury Lawyers Group for a free and private consultation about their child’s case.
Treatments and therapies for cerebral palsy are very expensive, but seeking damages from the at-fault parties whose negligence caused your child’s injuries can be difficult while you juggle work, the care of your child, and other responsibilities. We are here to help, so contact us today.
Symptoms and Indications of Cerebral Palsy in Your Baby or Toddler
The primary symptoms of cerebral palsy affect various motor functions. These include issues with balance, limb control, the ability to hold the head upright, and impaired reflexes. However, many secondary symptoms can also occur. These include issues with speech, learning, vision, hearing, and behavior. These motor and non-motor symptoms fall on a continuum that starts with mild issues such as slight clumsiness to physical incapacitation.
Babies with cerebral palsy can have trouble raising their heads and reaching for objects. They may have stiff or floppy muscles and difficulty rolling over or sitting up. They may miss many motor milestones. Drooling can also occur, leading to issues such as mouth infections and, later on, social rejection. Stiff muscles can affect bone development, but this may only become apparent as the patient gets older. For example, muscle contractures and issues with walking may be worsened since bone abnormalities can affect the hips and legs.
Cerebral palsy can also lead to issues with sleep for patients of all ages since the condition itself, as well as its treatments, can be painful. Finally, cerebral palsy can co-occur with various health issues, including epilepsy, intellectual disabilities, sensory impairment, gastrointestinal issues, and communication disorders.
F0r more information contact our cerebral palsy lawyer today.
"If your child was born with a birth injury, or cerebral palsy, we can help."
Causes of Cerebral Palsy
The first thing to understand about cerebral palsy is that it occurs because of damage or abnormal development of the baby’s brain. According to the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a fraction of cerebral palsy cases are thought to be the result of genetic mutations that occur during gestation. The rest of the cases involve some form of physical damage to various parts of the brain, generally occurring during pregnancy, delivery, or shortly after birth.
This type of brain damage can also occur because of medical errors, in which case you may have the right to seek compensation for all ensuing damages. You should speak with a Tyler cerebral palsy lawyer for details on whether or not your case may support for a Tyler, TX, medical malpractice lawsuit.
Children born with cerebral palsy may have experienced one or more risk factors associated with the condition. These include maternal infections during gestation, hypoxia, or birth complications. Preterm births are a major risk factor for cerebral palsy. Children born in multiple births are also at a higher risk of developing the condition, in part because they are more likely to be born with a low birth weight, another risk factor for cerebral palsy.
Full-term babies who develop cerebral palsy usually do so as a result of birth injuries. This may include:
- Injuries caused by the incorrect use of delivery devices
- Birth asphyxia
- Infections
- Extremely low blood sugar
- Severe, untreated jaundice
Complications such as placental detachment and strangulation by the umbilical cord can also lead to brain damage and the disabilities associated with cerebral palsy.
Tyler Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Near Me (800) 222-9529
Diagnosis and Classification of Cerebral Palsy
To diagnose and identify the type of cerebral palsy your child has, the doctor will likely order diagnostic tests such as imaging scans and tests that measure electrical activity in the brain, nerves, and muscles.
They will also perform a physical examination of your child and discuss their symptoms with you.
The symptoms that your child exhibits and the results of medical tests will help identify the type of cerebral palsy your child likely has. Most cases are spastic, characterized by jerky movements. Ataxic cerebral palsy usually exhibits as tremors, and athetoid cerebral palsy can be identified by involuntary movements in the face and extremities.
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Prognosis and Treatment of Cerebral Palsy
In many cases, patients with cerebral palsy can learn to live with and overcome his or her physical issues and live a somewhat unrestricted and independent life.
In serious cases, the patient’s body may experience pain and disability from overly tight muscles, joints that do not move properly, malnutrition as a result of feeding and swallowing issues, and a lack of movement that can cause muscle atrophy.
Treating these issues may involve the use of medications or surgery to repair damaged bones or muscle contractures. Ongoing therapy and other treatment are generally necessary for the life of the patient.
Call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group at (800) 222-9529 for a free review and to learn if you may have a birth injury case. You could recover compensation to help pay for your child’s treatment.
"Our Birth Injury Lawyers have recovered over $750+ Million on behalf of our clients."
Legal Assistance for Birth Injuries
The financial, physical, social, and mental costs that cerebral palsy can have on a family may be devastating. The condition can affect almost every aspect of your day-to-day life as a family, in addition to causing your child a lifetime of pain and suffering and hundreds of thousands of dollars in ongoing care costs.
A Tyler cerebral palsy lawyer can guide you through this traumatic time so that you and your family can recover from your child’s cerebral palsy diagnosis as quickly as possible.
Call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group at (800) 222-9529 to learn how. We will help you understand the effects of your child’s condition and seek any damages that you may have the right to file for. Statutes of limitations apply, so call now.
"We are committed to helping families who have suffered medical negligence."