Diagnosing Cerebral Palsy

The signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy include difficulty crawling, inability to stand with support, muscle tightness and involuntary movements.

If your child has been displaying any signs or symptoms of cerebral palsy, which could have been caused by a birth injury, you should have your child examined.

To confirm a diagnosis, your pediatrician may order any of the following tests: 

• MRI - produces 3-D images of your child's brain. Although painless, this exam is noisy and might last an hour. A sedative may be required because your child needs to be still during the exam.
• Cranial ultrasound - produces less detailed images of your child's brain but is quicker than an MRI. The ultrasound device will be placed over the soft spot on your baby's head.
• CT - produces cross-sectional images of the brain. It takes about 20 minutes. As with an MRI, your child must be still during this test.
• Electroencephalogram - this will likely be ordered if your child's symptoms include seizures because some people with cerebral palsy develop epilepsy. Electrodes will be placed on your child's scalp to record the brain's electrical activity.
• Lab tests - blood tests may be ordered to rule out any conditions that mimic cerebral palsy. 

If a diagnosis of cerebral palsy is confirmed, you should consult with a Louisville birth injury lawyer to discuss whether medical malpractice is behind your child's disorder. If so, you may be able to recover compensation for your child's ongoing medical care. 

Contacting a Louisville Birth Injury Lawyer

If your child has suffered cerebral palsy because of medical malpractice, you shouldn't have to pay for expensive medical bills that were caused by another person's negligence. A Kentucky birth injury lawyer at Gray and White Law can help you handle every aspect of your birth injury claim. If your child has been injured in Kentucky, contact us today for a free evaluation of your case - 1-800-634-8767 or 502-210-8942.