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Cerebral Palsy Signs & Symptoms

Symptoms

Cerebral palsy is difficult to detect at birth. Two early indicators of cerebral palsy in infants are abnormal muscle tone or the tendency to favor one side of the body over the other. If your infant seems unusually floppy or limp it could be a sign of hypotonia, meaning reduced muscle tone. If your infant seems excessively rigid or unbendable it could be a sign of hypertonia, meaning increased muscle tone. While typically an infant is affected with either hypertonia or hypotonia, sometimes an infant will endure an early bout of hypotonia only to progress to hypertonia after a few months. Other early symptoms of cerebral palsy in infants involve poor control over mouth muscles. Excessive vomiting, gagging or other feeding problems are sometimes lead to other more advanced cerebral palsy symptoms.

It is difficult to detect cerebral palsy until children start reaching development milestones. However, specific kinds of cerebral palsy do have some early indicators. For example, statistics show 70 % of cerebral palsy cases are of a specific type of the disorder called spastic. Early symptoms of spastic cerebral palsy include the drawing in of arms and legs or difficulty in straightening an infant's limbs. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy, another type of the disorder, can cause infants to writhe involuntarily in an irregular motion.

What Developmental Milestones Should My Infant Reach at What Age?

An infant's developmental milestones should be closely monitored. While all children develop differently, any deviation from typical development charts should alert a parent to a potential problem. A visit to the doctor will help determine whether a child's developmental difficulties are a normal variation or an indicator of a developmental disorder.
Cerebral palsy symptoms typically begin to appear in 18 months, as children progress through typical developmental milestones. Infants with cerebral palsy generally show delays in mastering expected motor skills like rolling over, sitting up, smiling or crawling. Infants affected by cerebral palsy are slow to master these skills because of motor impairments. Experts believe the majority of children should reach certain developmental milestones by certain ages.

Physical Milestones

Brings hands together - 4 months
Sits with out support - 6 months
Crawls - 9 months
Feeds self with fingers - 9 months
Hold bottle without a assistance - 12 months
Walks unassisted - between 12-15 months
Walks up and down stairs - 24 months

Verbal Milestones

Localize a sound to the right or left side and turn head towards it - 1 month
Smile spontaneously - 1 month
Imitate speech sounds and babble - between 3 and 6 months
Individual word comprehension - between 6 to 10 months
Ability to say Mama and Dada - between 5-10 months.

If your infant is delayed in achieving any of these milestones you should contact a physician for further testing. While these symptoms do not mean your infant has cerebral palsy, take your child to a qualified physician for testing. The earlier an infant is diagnosed with cerebral palsy the sooner they can begin therapy for the disorder.

How Can a Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Help Me?

Cerebral palsy can put incredible strain on a family. Sometimes, however, you shouldn't have to struggle with cerebral palsy on your own. A cerebral palsy lawyer can help you identify legal issues with your medical problems in a free, no-obligation consultation or phone call. If a doctor or hospital is at fault for the harm done to your family, you deserve to be compensated. The assistance of a qualified cerebral palsy lawyer can defend your rights and help your family through this difficult time.

Blog for Symptoms

Texas CP Lawyer | Vans a Must for Children in Wheelchairs
Description: Texas CP lawyer advises parents to start looking for appropriate lifts and vehicles if their child has serious mobility challenges due to Cerebral Palsy.
Dallas Cerebral Palsy Lawyer | Will My Child with CP Walk?
Description: Dallas cerebral palsy attorney discusses how CP effects muscles and motor skills. Some with CP will have painful spasms, and some may never be able to walk.
Texas CP Lawyer | 3 Common Features of Cerebral Palsy
Description: Texas CP lawyer outlines three common features/symptoms of Cerebral Palsy that parents can expect: muscle spasms, mobility issues and learning differences.
Dallas Birth Injury Lawyer | Why Cerebral Palsy Causes People to Suffer Socially
Description: Birth injury lawyer gives parents of children with CP strategies for talking with other people about CP and what to do when encountering social disapproval.
Dallas Cerebral Palsy Attorney | Cerebral Palsy Sufferers and Pain
Description: Dallas CP lawyer sadly explains that those who suffer from CP will experience painful muscle spasms and loss of mobility. A variety of therapies may help them.
Cerebral Palsy | What It Means For Infants
Description: Because an infant won't be walking yet are performing other complex activities, it is sometimes difficult to notice a child actually has cerebral palsy.
Baby Injury | How Baby Injuries Can Affect the Body
Description: More often than not, birth injuries heal quickly such as some bruises, but if you belive that your child has sustained more permanent injuries due to the negligent care of a doctor, contact a personal injury attorney to see what they can do for you. The Dallas based Rasansky Law Firm handles these kinds of cases and would be happy to evaluate your case free of charge. Contact us at 1 800 ATTORNEY (288-6763) or (214) 747-HELP (4357).
Cerebral Palsy | Discovering Cerebral Palsy in Infants
Description: Discoverting that your child can be very difficult and although financial compensation will never completely eliminate your suffering, it can help with medical costs. If you believe that you child has cerebral palsy as a result of a negligent medical staff, call a personal injusry attorney to see how they can help you. The Dallas based Rasansky Law Firm handles these kinds of cases and would be happy to evaluate your case free of charge. Contact us at 1 800 ATTORNEY (288-6763) or (214) 747-HELP (4357).
Birth Injury Lawyer | How Does Cerebral Palsy in Infants Manifest?
Description: Cerebral palsy occurs when an infant's brain is starved of oxygen, sometimes associated with a medical mistake made during the birth of the child. Cerebral palsy affects muscle development and movement of the child, which often leads to expensive medical bills. If your child suffers from cerebral palsy as a result of medical negligence, a birth injury lawyer might be able to assist you in receiving compensation. The Dallas based Rasansky Law Firm handles these kinds of cases and would be happy to evaluate your case free of charge. Contact us at (877) 331-4156 or visit jrlawfirm.com
What are the Signs of Cerebral Palsy in a Newborn?
Description: Cerebral Palsy affects muscle movement and coordination and is difficult to notice in an infant. The loss of movement and coordination is in part due to loss of oxygen to parts of the brain. Sometimes Cerebral Palsy goes undetected for several years according to the National Institute of Neurologial Disorders.
Signs to Look for CP in a Child 6 Months-1 Year Old
Description: CP refers to cerebral palsy, a group of problems that arise in the brain area and result in an abnormal movement or a lack of movement. Palsy is another word for paralysis, and this condition involves some level of paralysis for newborn children. DrSpock.com. states that the idea of totally crippled children may not always be accurate and that initial signs are far more subtle, especially in the first six months of age. The doctor further states that CP can occur together with other symptoms and conditions such as "seizures, learning disabilities, or mental retardation."
What Should I Know About Cerebral Palsy Gait?
Description: Cerebral palsy gait problems are typically the result of neurological damages to the brain that control the muscles and other parts of the body related to movement.
What Are Some Complications of Cerebral Palsy?
Description: Around 1/3 of patients who have cerebral palsy have mild intellectual impairment. Mental problems are most common in children with spastic quadriplegia. Around half of all cerebral palsy patients have seizures, which are bursts of electricity disrupting the brain's normal pattern of activity. Seizures that occur without a trigger are known as epilepsy.
Can CP be Detected During Pregnancy?
Description: There are so many issues that can arise during pregnancy, some more concerning than others. It is the responsibility of the pregnant woman's doctor to monitor the health of the mother and developing baby and take care of medical issues if they arise. If the mother's health is not properly observed, a medical condition can get out of hand and potentially cause harm to the baby or the mother. One such side effect of improper prenatal care to the developing child is a chronic condition known as cerebral palsy.