Cerebral palsy is a type of brain injury. It can lead to a lifelong disability. The brain damage often happens during birth, potentially when the child’s brain does not get enough oxygen or blood flow.
That said, cerebral palsy is not always diagnosed right away. It may not be clear that the infant has suffered harm. It takes time, so it is important for parents to know what common signs and symptoms to look for.
Missing milestones
One potential issue is that the child may not hit certain developmental milestones that the parents would otherwise expect. These milestones include things like sitting up on their own, crawling, rolling over or learning how to walk. While all babies learn these skills at slightly different times, a significant delay could indicate cerebral palsy.
Muscle control
Cerebral palsy can often affect muscle control, which is part of why it causes children to miss these mobility milestones. But it can also make their muscles appear different, such as feeling too stiff or too floppy. The child may struggle with muscle weakness, tight joints, soreness and unusual posture.
This does not mean that children cannot overcome these issues. For instance, walking independently may be difficult, but roughly 50% of children who are diagnosed with cerebral palsy do learn how to do this during the course of their lives.
But it is still important to understand how cerebral palsy affects the child and how it can change the course of their life. Parents who believe medical mistakes or even malpractice contributed to the cerebral palsy diagnosis need to know what legal options they have.