March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month
Whenever a child is born with Cerebral Palsy, the family has a lot to prepare for. A lot of care is needed, which impacts how much time the family has for other things. Unfortunately, Cerebral Palsy demands the family manages their time and money well.
Cerebral Palsy is a muscle disorder caused by permanent damage to the brain. Damage or injury to the child’s brain can happen during the birthing process caused by medical malpractice or negligence.
Lack of oxygen, or Asphyxia, to the child’s brain is a common cause for Cerebral Palsy. This can happen due to head trauma during labor and delivery. Patients with CP have a neurological condition that impairs muscle mobility and function explaining why constant care is needed.
Typically, the afflicted are born with CP, although some can acquire it later on. There are different types of Cerebral Palsy, however, all involve muscle function impairment. The differences range between how many limbs, or areas of the body, are affected. Usually, loss of muscle function will also happen in the face causing speech impediments.
With tremendous limitations on muscle function, posture, and speech it can be extremely difficult for children with Cerebral Palsy to get involved with children their own age. Other conditions that make socializing difficult include:
- Hearing loss: This can be a partial or complete loss of hearing.
- Impaired vision: Strabismus, or “cross eyes,” is due to lack of muscle control in the eye. Eventually, this will lead to trouble with seeing distance.
- Intellectual Disability: About 50 percent of individuals with CP are intellectually impaired.
- Seizures: Half of the children diagnosed with CP will have one or more seizures.
- Learning disabilities: As some students are easily identified as visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learners, children with CP are harder to place because all three are usually impaired in some way.
- Incontinence: Due to lack of muscle control.
Despite the adversity children with Cerebral Palsy face there is never a reason to give up hope. Hendy Johnson Vaughn Emery have been fighting for decades to ensure benefits for children suffering from Cerebral Palsy and other types of birth trauma. So, if you or someone you know has a child that has suffered from trauma at birth do not hesitate to contact our Louisville birth injury lawyers by calling 859-578-4444 or contacting us online.