Cerebral palsy (CP) is a birth injury often linked to oxygen deprivation or brain damage while a child is developing in utero, during labor, or shortly after birth. In many cases, the oxygen deprivation issues that trigger CP could have been prevented had the medical staff been more careful. The problem is worsened by the fact that CP is rarely a temporary health condition. Instead, it often follows a child for life, causing permanent symptoms and consequences.
Three Main Consequences of CP
The different kinds of cerebral palsy symptoms a child experiences will depend on the type of CP they have. Most parents do not know that CP can actually take several forms, each with different types and severities of symptoms.
Typically, there are three main symptoms of cerebral palsy, though:
- Spasticity: Cerebral palsy often manifests as stiff muscles or spasticity. Stiff muscles are difficult or impossible to control, which means the child may have severe mobility issues for life. Although it is not technically paralysis, spasticity can be significant enough to create very similar symptoms.
- Dyskinesia: Another common cerebral palsy symptom is dyskinesia or uncontrollable movements. Children with CP are often seen swaying back and forth or waving their arms seemingly randomly. This behavior is typically involuntary.
- Ataxia: The final common symptom of CP is ataxia or poor balance and coordination. Even without spasticity or dyskinesia, a child with ataxia may be unable to walk on their own.
Lifelong Care for a Child with CP
As can be seen, cerebral palsy symptoms often manifest as problems that hinder a child’s musculoskeletal control and movements. Many people with CP are wheelchair-bound for this reason. Parents will need to find ways to accommodate their child, such as installing wheelchair ramps around their home or moving to a new property altogether.
CP can also impact a child’s mental acuity in severe cases. Intellectual disabilities may cause a child to need special education courses, such as one-on-one learning from elementary school through high school. Holding gainful employment as an adult with CP might be a challenge as well, meaning a child can be entirely reliant on their parents even into adulthood.
Demanding Damages from Negligence Medical Professionals
The only way many parents can deal with the financial hardships caused by raising a child with cerebral palsy is to file a medical malpractice claim against the medical providers responsible for the child’s birth injury. The sooner you can connect with a lawyer, the better. Waiting too long after finding out your child has CP can make it difficult to collect and use viable evidence of medical negligence. In a worst-case scenario, a statute of limitations may pass, making it so you cannot file a claim at all.
If you live in Queens and your child was born with cerebral palsy or was diagnosed with it months or years later, you can call (718) 866-3664 to connect with Attorney David Kates of the Law Office of David A. Kates, PLLC. Our law firm has an intentional focus on birth injury claims, which we have been pursuing for parents and injured children for more than 20 years. Your first consultation with our firm is free, and they are always private. Find out more today.