Birth injuries occur in many pregnancies, with many long-term problems arising. One of the most common birth injuries is cerebral palsy. This condition is a group of disorders that can significantly impact a child’s development, physical features, etc.
As a parent, you should recognize what to expect if your baby suffers from cerebral palsy. However, you must also remember that signs of cerebral palsy can appear months after birth as your baby should start to experience developments. Below, we will help you recognize the common signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy and what it means for you and your family.
Signs of cerebral palsy can typically be categorized by:
- Movement and coordination
- Mouth control
- Mental and physical development
- Long-term impacts
If your baby suffers harm because of negligence, call our team at (210) 361-2997.
Movement and Coordination
Your baby may experience involuntary movements or struggle with body control functions. A lot of the problems arise because of the physical impact of cerebral palsy on a baby’s muscle tone. Here are some of the movement and coordination issues your baby may experience.
- Stiff muscles that make it difficult to walk
- Struggles with exaggerated muscle reflexes
- Some muscle tones being too floppy
- The baby favoring the use of one side of their body
- Significant trouble with walking or fine motor skills
- Slow movements or involuntary jerking movements
You might not recognize these symptoms immediately because some of the movements and problems you see can be attributed to a child’s age. As they get older, though, the signs become clearer.
Mouth Control
Cerebral palsy can significantly impact your child’s eating ability and speech habits. For instance, you may notice that your child has a delay in their speech development, taking much longer to start talking than they should. Once they start talking, they might have trouble doing so.
Your baby might also experience excessive drooling because of their condition. In some cases, cerebral palsy can result in trouble sucking, chewing, eating, or swallowing, so it’s vital to seek medical care.
Mental and Physical Development
You expect your child to reach specific milestones based on their age. However, a condition such as cerebral palsy can cause development to slow much more than it should. Both your child’s mental and physical development can slow, causing problems such as difficulty with sitting up or crawling. Your baby might also experience:
- Intellectual and cognitive focus issues
- Delayed physical growth
- Learning difficulties
Long-Term Impacts
Cerebral palsy results in damage to your baby’s brain. As a result, your baby may experience long-term neurological problems. Here are some of the long-term damages you can experience because of cerebral palsy:
- Sensory issues, including hearing and vision problems
- Ongoing seizures (potentially diagnosed as epilepsy)
- Incontinence or constipation
- Emotional disorders or ongoing behavioral issues
- Sensations to touch or pain
If your baby suffers cerebral palsy and damage to their brain, it’s not something that changes very often. Seeking treatment and methods to improve the baby’s quality of life is vital. You might need to hold a doctor accountable if cerebral palsy is the result of negligence, and hiring a lawyer is one of the most effective things you can do.
At Maloney Law Group, P.L.L.C., we focus on helping clients through some of life’s most difficult situations. Our San Antonio birth injury lawyers know about the long-term problems that can arise when negligence occurs. As such, we aim to help you understand your options to pursue compensation. Let us give you a voice and seek the maximum compensation available to you after severe damage.