Signs and Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy (Part A)

Cerebral palsy, a neurological condition, can affect your child's body movement, muscle coordination, balance and posture.

It can result from injuries to the brain, stemming from the following:

• a birth injury, usually involving forceps;
• your doctor's failure to recognize and treat maternal infections that affect the fetus; and
• your healthcare team's failure to monitor your fetus for signs of distress, which could indicate a lack of oxygen to the brain.

Although cerebral palsy usually happens before birth, it can happen shortly after the birth of your child. Some children diagnosed with cerebral palsy may appear clumsy while others might be unable to walk. If you think your child has sustained cerebral palsy as the result of negligent healthcare providers, you should discuss this with a Louisville birth injury lawyer.

A Louisville birth injury lawyer with experience in cases involving cerebral palsy as the result of medical negligence can help determine who, if anyone, can be held accountable for your child's condition.

Early Signs and Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy

The early signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy vary depending on the severity of your child's condition. One indicator of cerebral palsy is a delay in your child's movement or motor milestones.

If you recognize any of the following signs, you should contact your doctor:

• Babies older than 2 months - difficulty controlling their head when you pick them up; stiff legs that cross when you pick them up.
• Babies older than 6 months - inability to control their head when picked up; tendency to reach with one hand while keeping the other hand in a fist.
• Babies older than 10 months - inability to sit unassisted; the use of only one hand for crawling, while the other hand and leg are drug behind.
• Babies older than 12 months - inability to crawl; inability to stand with support.
• Toddlers older than 24 months - inability to walk; inability to push a toy that contains wheels.

A child with cerebral palsy may need medical devices, ongoing medical treatment and therapy for an indefinite period of time. A Louisville birth injury lawyer might be able to help you seek the necessary compensation to provide your child with the necessities to manage their cerebral palsy if it is a result of medical negligence.

Continue to Next Page >>