Cerebral Palsy in Infants

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a congenital medical disorder that is primarily characterized by a lack of muscle tone, poor movement, and decreased motor skills, and stems from the brain’s inability to control movement.  It is not uncommon to find vision, hearing, speech, and learning problems due to cerebral palsy in children, and problems with other vital functions, such as breathing, bladder and bowel control, eating, and drinking. 

There are three different types of CP – spastic CP, which involves difficulty with movement, athetoid CP, which involves uncontrolled movement, and ataxic CP, which involves a lack of balance and/or depth perception. 

Effects of Cerebral Palsy in Infants

Cerebral palsy infants may exhibit very different symptoms of the disorder, depending on its type and severity.  Generally, infants with CP are diagnosed through various developmental delays, poor coordination, and abnormal muscle tone.  The degree of impairment of infants with CP also differs from case to case.  Some children experience only mild cerebral palsy impairment, whereas other children with CP are stricken with severe impairments, such as an inability to walk, mental retardation, inability to speak, and seizures.  Some purely medical problems also may result from CP, such as visual and auditory impairment, aspiration, gastroesophageal reflux, tooth decay, sleep disorders, osteoporosis, and behavioral problems. 

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

CP in infants does not always have an identifiable cause.  Although it is generally accepted that CP results from brain damage, the source of the brain damage is not always apparent.  Cerebral palsy causes may include problems during pregnancy, whereas other brain damage may occur as a result of difficulties with labor and delivery, lead poisoning, bacterial meningitis, malnutrition, shaken baby syndrome, or even being unrestrained during a car accident.  CP also appears to be more common among infants who are born prematurely, and those who have a low birth weight.  Therefore, while CP can be caused by the affirmative action of another person, it also can simply occur for no apparent reason during pregnancy.

Treatment of Cerebral Palsy

There is currently no cure for CP, but its effects can be minimized and/or improved through treatment, therapy, supportive equipment, and even surgery.  Most of the available treatment of cerebral palsy is designed to help remedy the poor muscle function that is inherent in infants with CP.  Other devices such as wheelchairs and braces may make movement easier for some children with CP.  Surgery can help relieve some of the spinal problems that children with CP might experience.

Getting Legal Help with Infant Cerebral Palsy

If your infant has been diagnosed with CP, and you believe that the condition may have been caused by the negligent actions of another person, such as a doctor during labor or delivery, a caregiver, or a driver in a car accident, you may want to seek legal advice about your situation.  Caring for a child with serious, long-term, mental and physical impairments, can be financially as well as emotionally devastating.  Therefore, it is essential that you consult with an attorney about your legal options for compensation from those who may be responsible for your child’s medical condition.