When cerebral palsy is being discussed, it's important to remember that the cause of this disorder can never be cured. It's also important to remember that there are many different types of this particular disorder. For example, dyskinetic cerebral palsy has its own set of symptoms, as does ataxic cerebral palsy. The different therapies available are sometimes appropriate for sufferers of any type of cerebral palsy and sometimes only appropriate for sufferers of one specific type of cerebral palsy.

Getting Help

The first, and the best source of information about cerebral palsy that you should use is your doctor. The doctor will be able to tell you what type of therapies your child may benefit from, taking into consideration what type of cerebral palsy your child suffers from. There are actually many different options for therapy and, by taking advantage of those that have been proven effective and those that are new, you can provide your child with the best possible level of care.

If you're considering suing for a birth injury, you'll want to talk to a lawyer as soon as possible. There are time limitations on how long after the fact you can sue, so you have to make sure that you're on the right side of them. If you wait too long, you could miss your chance.

The Beginning

The first thing a lawyer will usually want is a summary of your situation. Sometimes you can give it to them over the phone and sometimes you can contact them online. They'll just want the basics. If it seems like you might have a case, they'll want you to come in. A Texas cerebral palsy lawyer will usually offer this consultation service for free. This is where they'll get more information about your potential claim.

In some cases, cerebral palsy in infants is very difficult to detect. Increasingly, however, better medical technology is making it easier to determine whether or not an infant suffered this brain injury during the birthing process, or before, and that is welcome news for parents who have children who are affected. Of course, there is no real treatment for a brain injury, but knowing sooner, rather than later, can mean that the family is better prepared to deal with the consequences of this disorder.

Understanding the Disorder

CP occurs because of a brain injury. The most significant effects of this brain injury manifest as diminished muscle control and uneven muscle tone. In an infant, it's easier to detect the uneven muscle tone than it is the diminished coordination as all infants tend to achieve milestones of movement and coordination at their own rates. For instance, one of the characteristic symptoms of ataxic cerebral palsy is the gait. Obviously, because the infant won't be walking for a long time, other forms of detection will have to be used to identify this, and other types, of CP in an infant.

A cerebral palsy lawyer represents those whose children were harmed by medical negligence. This is not the only reason that a child sometimes ends up with the brain injury that causes cerebral palsy. There are natural causes that can lead to the same condition, but there are definitely cases where this injury could have been avoided if doctors and nurses had done their jobs better. When this is the case, a lawyer can sometimes help the victims get compensation for their pain and suffering, as well as for their medical expenses.

Cerebral palsy causes problems with learning, walking and many other basic parts of life. In some cases, the individual affected has brain damage severe enough that they need constant care and supervision from a professional. In other cases, individuals with CP are able to get around by themselves well, but there is almost always a host of problems with fine motor control. Picking up objects such as pens and pencils and opening doors, for example, may be very difficult. One of the characteristics of CP is that individuals affected with it will tend to shake a lot when they attempt to perform tasks that require fine motor control.

Dyskinetic cerebral palsy affects approximately 25% of the people with the disorder. All types of cerebral palsy are the result of brain injuries. In all of its various forms, cerebral palsy is defined by an inability to control the muscles. The muscle tone is oftentimes very uneven, and Dyskinetic CP is particularly known for this symptom.

One of the first symptoms of Dyskinetic CP is uneven muscle tone. One part of the body may be very stiff and other parts very floppy. In infants, the limbs may feel particularly floppy and this is one of the first symptoms of the disorder. There are sometimes more dramatic symptoms associated with this disorder, as well.

Some individuals who suffer this disorder have uncontrollable muscle movements. These may manifest as very powerful and random movements of the arms and legs. In the individuals with the worst injuries, it may be virtually impossible for them to maintain a standing or sitting position or to utilize their muscles for fine and precise tasks. Some individuals will require a lifetime of care.

A cerebral palsy attorney is one who has experience and expertise in handling birth injury cases. While infants do sometimes suffer injuries through natural causes, there are instances where medical negligence of one sort or another is the clear and obvious cause of those injuries. In those cases, the parents may be able to file a lawsuit to recover financial damages for their pain, suffering and the sometimes astronomical costs that come with treating the results of this type of injury. This condition never improves. It is not degenerative, however.

Baby brain damage that involves the supply of oxygen being cut sometimes results in cerebral palsy. There are several different types of cerebral palsy, including dyskinetic cerebral palsy and ataxic cerebral palsy. In some cases, a child may be affected by more than one form of this disorder and, in those cases, the symptoms may be more severe. This disorder may or may not include the following symptoms:

• Trouble walking
• Trouble with balance
• Stiffness or looseness of the muscles
• Diminished metal development/intelligence
• Trouble with fine motor skills
• Speech impediments
• Hearing difficulties

Detecting

cerebral palsy in infants

is difficult. In fact, the problem may go undetected for a very long time. While there are significant events during infancy that represent typical milestones of development, not all children develop at the same rate and this can make it hard to tell whether or not a child has a legitimate problem or whether they’re just slower to develop than most of their peers. If there is a problem, it may be severe and, in the worst cases, the problem may be one that will endure throughout the child’s life.

Cerebral palsy is among the disorders that can be caused by a baby injury. In the case of this disorder, the baby’s brain is starved of oxygen, which results in the brain damage. This may occur in the womb. It can also occur during the birthing process itself. In some cases, it occurs completely naturally and there is no one to blame for the injury. In some cases, however, the baby’s injuries are directly the result of medical negligence of one sort or another and there may well be a case to be filed on behalf of the affected child and their parents.

Birth injury lawsuits have much in common with other types of malpractice suits. The crux of the issue is that the doctor or hospital failed in their duty to provide for the well-being of their patient, in some regard. In the case of these suits, it can be either the child or the mother who was harmed, or both, but it’s often the child who suffers the most from medical malpractice during the birth process. One of the most common types of injuries to occur at birth results in cerebral palsy, a disorder with no cure that oftentimes requires a lifetime of care.

In the case of cerebral palsy in infants, the condition results from the baby’s body being deprived of oxygen for too long. This results in brain damage. The damage occurs in those areas of the brain responsible for muscle control, and this can lead to problems with walking, use of the arms or even control of the face. There are multiple types of cerebral palsy, some of which affect the entire body and others that affect specific areas of the body. Some babies are unfortunate enough to have more than one type of this disorder.

If you are a woman who has taken or is currently taking anti-depressant medication and are of childbearing age, you need to know the risks. Drugs such as Paxil and Zoloft have been shown to increase risk of birth defects in children whose mothers take the drugs during pregnancy. It can be a tough decision for a mother-to-be to make; does she go off of her depression medication and risk a difficult relapse or does she take a chance of her baby having a birth injury caused by the dangerous drugs? 

We recently came across a blog that has some great resources for helping children who have been injured.  Jim Dodson out of Florida put it together and you can find it here at FloridaChildInjuryBlog.com.

The Rasansky Law Firm is an aggressive advocate for children and it's nice to see that we have a like-minded brother in Florida.