Does Your Infant Have Cerebral Palsy?

14 Apr Does Your Infant Have Cerebral Palsy?

In some cases, cerebral palsy in infants is very difficult to detect. Increasingly, however, better medical technology is making it easier to determine whether or not an infant suffered this brain injury during the birthing process, or before, and that is welcome news for parents who have children who are affected. Of course, there is no real treatment for a brain injury, but knowing sooner, rather than later, can mean that the family is better prepared to deal with the consequences of this disorder.

Understanding the Disorder

CP occurs because of a brain injury. The most significant effects of this brain injury manifest as diminished muscle control and uneven muscle tone. In an infant, it’s easier to detect the uneven muscle tone than it is the diminished coordination as all infants tend to achieve milestones of movement and coordination at their own rates. For instance, one of the characteristic symptoms of ataxic cerebral palsy is the gait. Obviously, because the infant won’t be walking for a long time, other forms of detection will have to be used to identify this, and other types, of CP in an infant.

Scanning Technologies

Thanks to tremendous advances in medical science, doctors are able to see a much more detailed picture of the brain than they could in the past. For those with CP, this means faster diagnosis and an earlier start to coping with the disorder. When CP is suspected in an infant, doctors will usually order a range of tests to confirm the diagnosis. Unfortunately, this costs a great deal of money at the same time that many families find themselves without a way to pay for any of these expenses.

Negligence Claims

A negligence claim is only an option where the CP did not occur naturally. Most of the time, CP does arise from natural causes that have nothing to do with the actions that the doctor did or did not take during the delivery. There are cases, however, where a doctor’s negligence directly led to the injury and, when this is the case, it’s advisable to speak with an attorney.

Medical negligence may or may not have had anything to do with your child’s injury. An attorney can take a look at the circumstances and determine whether or not you have a claim to file. Make sure you look for an attorney that works on contingency; it’s the best way to protect your money.