5 Steps to Take if Your Child Has Cerebral Palsy Birth Injury

Symptoms include delayed milestones like rolling over, sitting up, crawling or walking, muscle tightness or spasms, abnormal gait, coordination issues, or swallowing and feeding difficulties.

Compensation can include medical expenses, rehabilitation, therapies, special education, equipment, home accommodations, and lifelong care.

Look for a birth injury attorney experienced in cerebral palsy and birth injury litigation. Ask about their case history, legal team, and resources to support your child long-term.

Depending on errors, liability may fall on doctors, nurses, the hospital, or other healthcare providers. A birth injury attorney can pinpoint accountable parties.

Deadlines for filing your case vary by state, but statute of limitations can be short as 6 months, or as long as 8 years after the injury occurred. It is imperative that you seek legal counsel as soon as possible.

Treatments are tailored to the individual child’s needs and may include physical and occupational therapy, speech therapy, medications to manage symptoms like muscle spasticity, and surgical interventions if necessary.

Supportive measures include enrolling in early intervention programs, ensuring access to appropriate therapies, promoting social and recreational activities, and working with a multidisciplinary team of healthcare providers. If your child’s cerebral palsy was caused by medical malpractice, ensuring that you appropriate compensation can help to fund the best care. 

Children with CP may be eligible for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Schools can provide individualized education plans (IEPs) tailored to each child’s needs.

The impact of CP varies widely. Some children may have mild symptoms and lead relatively independent lives, while others with more severe forms of CP may require lifelong care and support. Early intervention and ongoing therapy can significantly improve outcomes.

There is no cure for CP, but various treatments and therapies can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. These may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medications, and sometimes surgery.