Cerebral Palsy Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy refers to a group of disorders that present during infancy or very early childhood. Cerebral palsy is caused by an injury or abnormality to the cerebrum (frontal portion of the brain) while the brain is still in the developmental stage. Most often the brain injury occurs during pregnancy, labor and delivery, or shortly thereafter.

The area of the brain that is damaged in children with cerebral palsy is responsible for motor control and works like a junction box, sending out signals to all other areas of the body. Persons with CP have difficulty with body movement, balance, and muscle coordination. Infants with cerebral palsy are usually delayed in reaching developmental milestones like sitting-up, crawling, and walking.

The Causes of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is always caused by brain damage. So the real question for any parent of a child with cerebral palsy is: what caused my child’s brain damage? Although some instances of brain damage are unavoidable, often times the brain damage is preventable with proper medical care. If you suspect cerebral palsy was caused by medical malpractice, contact a Memphis cerebral palsy attorney immediately.

Some of the most common causes of brain damage leading to cerebral palsy are:

• Lack of oxygen and blood flow to the brain before, during, or shortly after birth
• Infection to the mother during pregnancy
• Infection to the baby early in life
• Birth defects affecting the brain, spinal cord, or lungs

Common Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy commonly affects a person’s movement, speech, learning ability, and vision. Several different types of cerebral palsy exist: spastic, dyskinetic, ataxic, hypotonic, and mixed. Cerebral palsy is not not progressive, meaning that it does not gradually change or get worse overtime. A person with cerebral palsy may have all or some of the following symptoms:

• Low APGAR scores at birth
• Delayed milestones such as controlling the head, rolling over, sitting-up, and crawling
• Abnormal muscle tone: either muscles that are overly stiff (spastic) or overly relaxed (hypotonic)
• Abnormal movements that are either quick and jerky or slow and writhing
• Skeletal deformities such as scoliosis and kyphosis
• Joint contractures (stiffing of the joints)
• Speech problems (dysphasia)
• Vision problems often associated with one eye turning in or out (strabismus)
• Bowel and/or bladder control problems

Treatment for Cerebral Palsy

There is no cure for cerebral palsy. The goal of any treatment for persons with CP should be to provide therapies designed to reduce the disabilities associated with cerebral palsy and to provide a better quality of life. Every person with cerebral palsy is different and so are the treatment options. Therapy regimens are generally overseen by a physician and are tailored to fit the needs of the individual patient. The broad categories of therapies available to children and adults with cerebral palsy include:

• Physical therapy consists of stretching and physical exercises designed to loosen tight muscles, strengthen others, and prevent contractures
• Speech therapy involves exercises to help with language skills, as well as adaptive electronic communication devices such voice synthesizers
• Occupational therapy is designed to help with activities of daily living such as grooming, feeding, and dressing
• Special equipment like electric wheelchairs, walkers, and bicycles can also improve quality of life
• Behavioral therapy help children and adults with cerebral palsy cope with and understand their disabilities
• Educational services such as individual tutors and classroom assistants help with children suffering from cognitive defects

You should Know Your Rights if Your Child Has Suffered a Birth Injury in Memphis. If you have any questions about your legal rights, please call us today at 901-680-9777.

Bailey & Greer represents people with birth injury claims in Tennessee and Mississippi, including Memphis, Germantown, Bartlett, Cordova, Collierville, Arlington, Lakeland, and all of Shelby, Fayette, and Tipton Counties. We have also handled cases in Arkansas, Georgia, and Missouri.