How long Bell’s palsy lasts in children depends on a number of factors. In most cases, it resolves on its own over a few months. Even with Bell’s palsy occurring as a part of a birth injury, it usually clears up during the first year of the baby’s life. Most mild cases do not require treatment.
Mild to moderate cases of Bell’s palsy may require supportive treatments and medications, which generally helps the baby or child to build muscle strength and control. Serious cases that do not improve may require a specialist for treatment.
Some babies who struggle to latch or children developing language skills may require therapy to ensure they gain these important skills. This therapy may be provided by a speech pathologist or a specialist who frequently works with children who have facial paralysis.
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Living with Bell’s Palsy
Damage to the facial nerves, especially during labor and delivery, is one cause of Bell’s palsy and other facial paralyses in infants. This damage makes it difficult or impossible to move one or both sides of the face, depending on the severity of the injury and where it occurred. Children with Bell’s palsy and other types of facial paralyses live with symptoms that include:
- Drooping of one side of the face
- Muscle weakness on the affected side of the face
- Asymmetrical facial expressions
- Asymmetrical movement of the face
- Difficulty to blink completely
- Excessive drooling
- Difficulty latching to feed or chewing in older children
- Speech problems in older children
Babies and children whose Bell’s palsy does not improve on its own may need help adapting to their impairments, including therapy and rehabilitation. Alternatively, treatment such as medication and surgery may help repair the damage.
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Treating Bell’s Palsy and Other Infant Facial Paralyses
How long Bell’s palsy lasts in children depends on the severity of the nerve injury and other factors. While rare, babies and children may suffer permanent muscle weakness and nerve-related issues on the affected side of their face. Most recover some or all of the movement and sensation, but this is not always guaranteed.
Treatment and support available for babies and children who do not recover on their own from Bell’s palsy include:
- Support to prevent damage to the affected eye, such as patches or drops
- Physical therapy
- Botulinum or steroid injections
- Support for speech or feeding as needed
Rarely, babies and children may require specialized surgery to repair or transfer nerves to repair facial paralysis. This type of surgery may not completely cure their nerve damage, but it can restore functional movement.
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Let an Attorney Help You Build a Bell’s Palsy Birth Injury Case
If your baby was born with Bell’s palsy or another type of facial paralysis related to a traumatic or complicated labor and delivery, you may be able to build a birth injury case. Working with a birth injury medical malpractice attorney may allow you to hold the doctor or another responsible party accountable and provide you with compensation.
This compensation may include medical care costs, therapy and related expenses, and non-economic losses, such as the pain and suffering your baby experienced as a result of losing the voluntary muscle movement in their face.
Birth injury attorneys offer free case consultations to families like yours. During this consultation, you will discuss your child’s diagnosis, ongoing needs, prognosis, and care. They can help you assign liability, file your claim, meet all deadlines, and navigate the claims process to seek the financial recovery you deserve.
These cases rely on expert medical testimony, so your attorney will work with a doctor or another expert who will review your child’s medical records, records about the birth of your child, and other medical evidence to confirm that your child suffered a preventable birth injury. This testimony is the foundation for your medical negligence case.
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Call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group Today
With the Birth Injury Lawyers Group, you can get help with your child’s Bell’s palsy medical malpractice case today. We understand how stressful and confusing it may be to realize that your doctor may be responsible for your child’s facial paralysis, including the pain and suffering they endured as a result.
It is important to reach out as soon as you can about your case. Each state has a deadline, known as a statute of limitations. There may also be other deadlines that apply in your case, as well. We can help you understand the timeline in your case.
Call (800) 222-9529 today to get started with a complimentary consultation about your child’s Bell’s palsy case.
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