When damage is done to the brain, cerebral palsy may result. Impaired muscle movements and coordination characterize cerebral palsy.
Recognizing the signs of cerebral palsy in an infant is not easy. It may start by recognizing that the baby’s movements are jerky and sudden – similar to cerebral palsy.
However, the signs become more apparent as the child ages. Cerebral palsy’s main types are:
Spastic cerebral palsy: is characterized by stiff muscles and it can affect either one side of the body or affect the entire body.
Athetoid cerebral palsy: characterized by slow, jerky and uncontrollable movements.
Ataxic cerebral palsy: a type of cerebral palsy where the coordination and balance are off.
Mixed cerebral palsy: This condition usually is made of symptoms of other cerebral palsy types.
Are these Cerebral Palsy Symptoms Being Displayed by Your Child?
If your child is displaying cerebral palsy symptoms then take your child to a doctor for evaluation. The main symptom of cerebral palsy is the delay in development.
As an infant grows they conquer milestones through to early childhood. If you notice your child not meeting these milestones, you should bring your child to see a doctor.
There are developmental delays to be aware of and some of these are:
*Head movements are uncontrollable after 2 months
*when the child is not sitting on their own after 10 months
*The child is not crawling after one year
*the child’s body drags on one side
*the child is not walking after 2 years
Other signs to be aware of are muscle stiffness, a child’s posture and a less noticeable sign is early hand preference. Early hand preference is when a child favors one hand over the other. Normally this will take place at one year of age or older. If they favor one hand before age one then take your child to see a doctor.
Other Symptoms, Associated Conditions and Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis
These associated conditions are common in children born with cerebral palsy:
*Seizures
*Breathing problems
*Vision, speech, or hearing impairments
*Challenged in their mental development
If your child shows any of the signs mentioned you need to bring them in to be evaluated by a specialist. MRIs, CT scans, EEGs and other related tests will be given in order to diagnose effectively.
Your child’s cerebral palsy may have been due to medical negligence during the birth process. These sort of cases could have been avoided.
If your child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy you need to talk to a medical malpractice attorney and they will evaluate your case for free and advise you of your legal rights.
