Cerebral Palsy and Its Causes, Signs, and Prevention
There is nothing more important than your child’s health. If you think your child has cerebral palsy, it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible. That way, your child can receive the best possible care.
There is no cure for cerebral palsy, but there are a number of medical treatments to alleviate your child’s suffering. There are also interventions that will make it easier for your child to live an active and fulfilling life.
Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability in childhood. If you have any concerns about your child’s development, see your pediatrician as soon as possible. You can also contact the National Early Childhood Center to find out how to schedule a free cerebral palsy evaluation in your state.
Frequent Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move, control their muscles, and maintain balance. It’s caused by brain damage that occurs in the prenatal period, during delivery, or after the child is born.
Early signs that your child may have cerebral palsy include the following:
- The child will not roll over
- The child’s head lags
- The child’s legs get stiff when you pick them up
- The child reaches out with one hand while keeping the other hand fisted
- The child doesn’t bring their hands to their mouth or together
- The child drags one leg while crawling
- The child is not crawling on all fours.
Symptoms of cerebral palsy vary and generally begin to occur between infancy and preschool. Signs of cerebral palsy that you may notice as your child develops include:
- Impaired movement
- Exaggerated reflexes
- Involuntary movements
- Unsteady walking
- Difficulty swallowing
- Crouched gait
- Scissor-like gait
- Stiff muscles
- Tremors
- Lack of balance
- Unusual posture
- Jerky motions
- Difficulty speaking
- Hearing loss or deafness
- Excessive drooling
- Learning difficulties
- Delayed growth
- Seizures
- Epilepsy
- Constipation
- Difficulty hearing
- Walking on toes
- Urinary incontinence
- Vision problems or blindness
- Abnormal touch and pain sensations
- Favoring one side when crawling or walking
- Delays in reaching developmental milestones
What Causes Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is often the result of birth injuries that occur in the delivery room. Causes of cerebral palsy include:
- Bleeding in the brain
- Hypoxic brain injury
- Meningitis
- Encephalitis
- Maternal infections
- Severe jaundice
- Fetal and infant strokes
- Medical malpractice
- Infection
Preventing Cerebral Palsy
The best way to prevent cerebral palsy is by making sure both mother and child receive the best possible medical care during the prenatal period and in the delivery room. During the expectant mother’s regular office visits, her OB/GYN will provide prenatal counseling on healthy living habits and use advanced imaging and diagnostic equipment to monitor the child’s development.
Poor decisions and medical errors made by doctors and other members of the delivery team may cause birth injuries. Negligence in the delivery room is a major cause of medical malpractice.
Effective ways to prevent birth injuries include:
- Regular prenatal OG/GYN visits
- Prenatal medical assessment of all maternal risks
- Vaccinations for mother and child
- Active monitoring of all newborns
- Hospital protocols that prevent birth injuries
- Constant monitoring of the infant’s vitals during childbirth
- Aggressive screening for all hospital personnel
- The OB/GYN must ensure timely delivery
Are You Concerned About Your Infant’s Health?
There is no room for errors in the delivery room, and medical malpractice is a known cause of cerebral palsy. If you have questions or concerns about how your child is developing, contact the experienced Denver Birth Injury Lawyers at Leventhal Puga Braley P.C.
If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, you and your family may be facing a lifetime of costly medical treatment. Our Colorado law firm has won record-breaking settlements and verdicts for victims of medical malpractice. We will help you achieve the best possible outcome, and we will stand by you every step of the way.
Reach out to us at (303) 759-9945 to schedule a free consultation today.