Cerebral palsy is often caused by brain damage that occurs before, during, or shortly after birth. However, cerebral palsy is not an intellectual disability. Instead, cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that impact movement, muscle tone, or posture.
Cognitive Impairments
Some people with cerebral palsy will live their whole lives without any cognitive impairments. Other children, however, will have mild, moderate, or severe cognitive impairments in addition to their cerebral palsy diagnosis. These children could have trouble with things such as:
- Comprehension
- Paying attention
- Learning
- Language
- Memory
- Decision making
- Speech proficiency
To be classified as an intellectual disability, a child typically has to have an IQ of 70 or less. You may have concerns about your child’s cognitive ability from an early age, but a diagnosis cannot be made until your child is older.
Cerebral Palsy and Cognitive Impairment Connection
While cerebral palsy is not a cognitive impairment, the cause of your child’s cerebral palsy could also be the cause of your child’s cognitive impairment. More specifically, the birth injury that caused your child’s cerebral palsy brain injury could also impact other parts of the brain and result in an intellectual disability.
Be Prepared for Whatever Your Child Faces
Doctors, teachers, physical therapists, and others do not know your child the way you do. If you have any concerns about your child’s cognitive functioning, mobility, or other developmental milestones, you should talk to her healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Our law firm is here to help you prepare your child for the future by getting her the fair compensation she deserves from the doctor or hospital who caused her injuries. We will fight for her full recovery if negligence caused her cerebral palsy and any other birth injuries, including intellectual disabilities.
Call our experienced cerebral palsy attorneys and staff nurse today to learn more. We can be reached any time—24/7/365—and we would be pleased to welcome you to our Prospect, Kentucky office for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Related Links: