Common Myths about Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is one of the most devastating medical conditions imaginable. The people that suffer with it have very little control over their muscles and, oftentimes, the more they try to use their muscles to perform fine motor skill involved tasks, the harder it is for them to control them. Here are some common myths about this disorder.

Myth 1: Cerebral Palsy is a Birth Defect

Cerebral palsy is not a birth defect, it stems from an injury. Cerebral palsy is a term used to describe a range of related conditions that are the result of a specific type of brain injury. This brain injury may be sustained during the birthing process or it may be sustained at another time during the infant's development.

Myth 2: Cerebral Palsy is Treatable

The symptoms of cerebral palsy are treatable but the condition itself is not. Brain injuries do not heal, as the tissues in the brain are not capable of regenerating in the same fashion as are the tissues in the rest of the body.

Myth 3: Cerebral Palsy always means Mental Impairment

Cerebral palsy, in many cases, does have effects on the individual’s mental capacity. There are, however, forms of cerebral palsy that are not associated with this. For example, individuals that suffer with dyskinetic cerebral palsy oftentimes have the full mental capacity that would be expected at their age. Some people with CP, however, do suffer significant mental impairments.

Myth 4: Cerebral Palsy Symptoms are Mainly Cognitive

Most of the symptoms of cerebral palsy are actually physical. While mental impairment is a characteristic of some forms of this disorder, the most significant effects are exhibited in the muscles. People with cerebral palsy have uneven muscle tone and usually have great difficulty controlling their muscles.

In some cases, cerebral palsy is the direct result of medical negligence. If your child has been diagnosed with CP and you believe that it is the result of medical negligence on the part of the birthing facility, you may wish to talk to a lawyer. The lawyer will have plenty of other cerebral palsy facts available that you may not even be aware of. They will also be able to explain to you the role that medical negligence sometimes plays in this disorder and what options you may have for seeking damages from a jury or from a settlement from the medical provider responsible for the injury.