Facts About Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is a series of conditions that destroy the body's ability to control muscles. Cerebral Palsy is caused by damage to one or more parts of the brain. Brain injuries that cause Cerebral Palsy usually occur during fetal development; before, during or shortly after birth; or during infancy. In some cases, these types of injuries are preventable. You may need a cerebral palsy lawyer to help sue those responsible for injuring your child. Damages earned in court can go toward paying for costly therapy.

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Cerebral Palsy was first called Little's disease, for the doctor who first diagnosed the disorder in patients. That doctor thought Cerebral Palsy was caused by lack of oxygen during birth. Later studies proved that a variety of causes exist for the disease. About 70 percent of the children diagnosed with cerebral palsy get the disorder from brain injuries suffered during pregnancy. Another 20 percent are diagnosed with cerebral palsy because of brain injuries that occur during birth.

This condition destroys the ability to fully control motor function, especially muscle control and coordination. Depending on where the brain was injured, someone with Cerebral Palsy may suffer from muscle tightness or spasticity; involuntary movement; disturbance in gait; difficulty in swallowing and problems with speech.

Serious Cerebral Palsy effects:

• Mental retardation
• Inability to control the body
• Impairment of sight, hearing or speech
• Seizures

Cerebral palsy is present at birth, but may not be detected for months.

Cerebral Palsy risk factors include:

• Premature birth
• Low birth weight
• Inability of placenta to provide fetus with oxygen and nutrients
• Lack of growth factors during development
• Blood type incompatibility between baby and mother
• Infection of German measles or other viruses
• Bacterial infection of the mother or fetus
• Prolonged loss of oxygen during birth

Thankfully, cerebral palsy doesn't get worse and it isn't contagious. But secondary illnesses such as muscle spasticity can develop over time.

The condition can be managed by having doctors, therapists, educators, nurses, and social workers help the child and the family. Medications, surgery and the use of braces can help the child improve muscle and nerve coordination to prevent dysfunction. But treatment costs will soar once the child reaches adulthood. He's more likely to require personal assistance, continuing therapy, educational and vocational training, counseling and a host of other programs.

All these necessary medical treatments and services will get costly. Contact us now to see if a cerebral palsy lawyer can help your family recover damages to treat your child's cerebral palsy.

Cerebral palsy hot topics:

• Spastic cerebral palsy
• Athetoid or dyskinetic cerebral palsy
• Ataxic cerebral palsy
• Mixed types of cerebral palsy

Contact our Cerebral Palsy lawyer now for a professional consultation.