Cerebral palsy is a general term used to describe chronic brain disorders that impair a person’s ability to control body movement. The severity and symptoms of cerebral palsy vary greatly, although the disorders associated with cerebral palsy do not typically worsen over time. Cerebral palsy is caused by faulty development of or damage to motor areas in the brain that disrupts its ability to control movement and posture. Signs of cerebral palsy usually appear in the first few years of a child’s life and are often first detected by parents who suspect that their child is not developing motor skills normally. Infants with cerebral palsy are frequently slow to reach developmental milestones, such as learning to roll over, sit, crawl, smile, or walk. Some affected children have abnormal muscle tone, unusual posture, or favor one side of their bodies. An older child with cerebral palsy may have difficulty with fine motor tasks, such as writing or cutting with scissors, have trouble with maintaining balance and walking, or experience involuntary movements, such as uncontrollable writhing motion of the hands or drooling. Some people with cerebral palsy are also affected by other medical disorders, including seizures or mental impairment. Cerebral palsy does not always cause profound handicap.While a child with severe cerebral palsy might be unable to walk and need extensive, lifelong care, a child with mild cerebral palsy might only be slightly disabled and require no special assistance. There is no known cure for cerebral palsy, but scientific research continues to yield improved treatments and methods of prevention.

When physicians try to uncover the cause of cerebral palsy in an individual child, they consider the form of cerebral palsy, the medical histories of the mother and child, and the onset of the disorder. In the United States, most children with cerebral palsy have had it since birth, although the disease may not be detected for months. Research has identified some specific events during pregnancy or around the time of birth that can damage motor centers in the developing brain. Some of these causes of cerebral palsy include infections during pregnancy, jaundice in the infant, Rh incompatibility, oxygen deprivation to the brain or trauma to the head during labor and delivery, and stroke.

Cerebral palsy frequently results from medical errors. If you know someone with cerebral palsy, please feel free to contact Regan Zambri & Long. Our attorneys are experienced in handling cases involving cerebral palsy and other birth injuries. We may be able to assist you in investigating the cause of your child’s condition as well as exploring available resources that may advance your child’s enjoyment of life.