Cerebral Palsy Information | 3 Things to Expect with Cerebral Palsy

3 Things to Expect with Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is the result of a brain injury. Here are three things you can expect to be dealing with if your child is diagnosed with this condition.

1. Difficulty Learning

Not everyone with cerebral palsy has trouble in school, but many of the children affected by this condition lag considerably behind their peers. This can sometimes mean that they'll need special educational resources or that they'll need to be a few grades behind their age while they're in school. Some children with CP, however, are fully there from a mental standpoint and perform as well as their peers in any given subject.

2. Speech and Hearing Problems

Even if they have their full mental capacity, sufferers of cerebral palsy oftentimes have trouble hearing and speaking. The speech impediments are partly the result of the problems that sufferers of CP have controlling their muscles, and these problems extend to the muscles of the face. Hearing problems are sometimes a result of the brain injury.

Hearing aids and special speech classes can help CP sufferers to overcome these difficulties. They can still be problematic, however, and there are many cases where these particular issues make the child who suffers them feel somewhat ostracized from their peers.

3. Walking Difficulties

Almost everyone affected by the brain injury will experience some sort of walking difficulties. These difficulties are sometimes specific to the type of cerebral palsy that the sufferer has. For instance, individuals with ataxic cerebral palsy will oftentimes have a very shaky walk. The equipment that can be used to help such individuals will be familiar to most everyone. Wheelchairs, walkers and braced crutches are usually used to help CP sufferers get around better.

Was it Caused by a Medical Mistake?

If the baby injury your child suffered was the result of medical negligence and if an attorney believes that they could establish as much in court, they may be willing to take on your case. CP is sometimes a condition that juries will award over and sometimes results in the parents receiving significant settlements. If you believe that your child's cerebral palsy was the result of the doctors, nurses or hospital involved in the birthing process not doing all they could to provide for the safety of your child, be sure to talk to an attorney about the matter. They may be able to put together a case that could win you compensation for your child's pain and suffering and injuries.