Common Health Challenges in Children with Cerebral Palsy

 Posted on April 22, 2022 in Cerebral Palsy

 Cerebral palsy is a complex group of disorders caused by brain damage that has a wide variety of symptoms. Usually, the damage that causes cerebral palsy occurs during early development before a child is born. However, sometimes cerebral palsy can result from medical malpractice during birth because of issues like delayed delivery, improper use of assistive tools like forceps, and breech birth. If you recently found out that your child has cerebral palsy, you may want to know more about what this diagnosis might mean for you and your loved one. Here are some of the most common medical issues that children with cerebral palsy may have. 

Difficulty Swallowing (Dysphagia)

Dysphagia is difficulty swallowing caused by weakness or dysfunction of muscles involved in the swallowing process. Dysphagia can occur in the back of the throat or lower down in the esophagus. Children with dysphagia often struggle to chew, feel pain when they swallow, or get food stuck in their throat. Dysphagia can be painful for children and frightening for their parents because it can be difficult to diagnose and treat unless it presents with other symptoms. Depending on the severity of the condition, a feeding tube may be necessary to ensure a child gets their nutritional needs met. 

Movement and Coordination Issues

Children with cerebral palsy often suffer from various difficulties controlling their movement. The most common disorder is spasticity, or uncontrolled muscle stiffening, but other common disorders include exaggerated reflexes, difficulty balancing, hand-eye coordination, and difficulty with precise movements like buttoning a shirt. Some children have only very mild mobility issues and can move independently while others use wheelchairs their entire lives. 

Speech Delays

Cerebral palsy can affect the areas of the brain that control speech, which involves a complex combination of face, throat, and neck muscles. Children with cerebral palsy may have speech challenges ranging from having a hard time using the correct words to an almost complete lack of verbal expressiveness. 

Seizures and Tremors

Seizures are an intense and abnormal burst of electrical activity in the brain that causes brain cells to miscommunicate and can cause someone to experience a variety of symptoms. These include muscle stiffness, twitching, limpness, unconsciousness, lessened awareness, unusual sensations, and more. The severity of seizures can vary and may begin in a particular area but spread into other parts of the brain. 

Contact an Experienced Illinois Cerebral Palsy Birth Injury Attorney

Children with cerebral palsy can suffer from a wide range of health issues that can be expensive and labor-intensive to care for. If your child developed cerebral palsy as a consequence of medical malpractice or negligent care, you may want to take action against the parties responsible for your child’s suffering. To schedule a complimentary case review with one of the Illinois cerebral palsy birth injury lawyers at Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd., call us at 312-462-4200. Use our experience to your advantage. Contact us today and learn more about how we can help. 

Source: 

https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Hope-Through-Research/Cerebral-Palsy-Hope-Through-Research