(Newswire.net — September 22, 2022) — Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that appear during infancy or early childhood, causing damage to the part of the brain that controls movement, muscle coordination, and balance.
CP can affect many bodily functions, including physical development, muscle tone, reflexes, posture, balance, coordination, and motor skills. In some cases, cerebral palsy can cause speech, hearing, and vision problems, ultimately affecting one’s learning abilities.
Types of Cerebral Palsy
Spastic Cerebral Palsy
Spastic CP is the most prevalent type of cerebral palsy, affecting about 70 to 80 percent of infants with the disorder. It is characterized by involuntary muscle spasms that result in stiff muscles and difficulty with mobility.
Children with spastic CP often struggle to walk and may experience muscle weakness and paralysis.
Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy
Dyskinetic cerebral palsy affects about 15 to 20 percent of children with CP. It is caused by damage to the basal ganglia, the part of the brain that controls the voluntary movement of arms and legs. As a result, children with dyskinetic CP tend to have jerky movements and tremors, making it difficult for them to walk steadily and maintain balance.
Ataxic Cerebral Palsy
Ataxic cerebral palsy is a relatively rare form of CP, accounting for approximately 5 to 10 percent of children with CP. It involves dysfunction of the cerebellum, which is responsible for balance and coordination.
Ataxic children may struggle with coordinated movements, such as standing and walking. They may also experience challenges in speech and visual processing.
Mixed Cerebral Palsy
Mixed cerebral palsy is a combination of any other forms of CP in an individual patient. Patients with mixed CP typically experience a combination of symptoms, which can range from mild to severe.
For example, a child with dyskinetic and spastic CP may experience tremors, involuntary muscle spasms, and difficulty walking and maintaining balance.
Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy
The symptoms of CP vary from child to child, depending on the severity of the condition. However, common symptoms may include stiffness of the arms or legs, abnormal movements and posture, poor coordination, and a lack of muscle tone.
Some children may also experience seizures, intellectual disabilities, feeding problems, communication challenges, and difficulty falling asleep due to CP.
Causes of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy Can Be a Result of Medical Negligence or Malpractice at Birth
Cerebral palsy can sometimes be attributed directly to medical malpractice or negligence by a doctor or a nurse. In most cases, CP results from errors such as failing to perform a C-section correctly, mishandling forceps and failing to identify fetal distress during labor.
Medical professionals have a duty under the law to consistently exercise reasonable care when treating patients. Therefore, if your child’s cerebral palsy condition is due to medical malpractice or negligence, you can file a cerebral palsy lawsuit case seeking compensation for the child’s injuries and medical expenses.
However, cerebral palsy lawsuits can be complex, as they require you to prove that the medical expert acted negligently, causing harm to your child. For that reason, you should consult an experienced medical malpractice attorney who can help you evaluate your case and determine the best legal steps to take.
Prenatal Damage
Prenatal damage is also a possible cause of cerebral palsy. It includes any condition that affects the fetus during pregnancy, such as maternal illness, infection, malnutrition, or any other condition that lead to a low blood and oxygen supply to the fetus’s brain, causing it to develop abnormally.
Prenatal damage can also be due to external factors such as exposure to environmental toxins, maternal smoking, and alcohol abuse. However, most cases of CP are not related to environmental factors and are therefore considered congenital (present from birth).