Cerebral Palsy Symptoms: Recognizing Early Symptoms

When brain damage occurs the result may be cerebral palsy. Some characteristics of cerebral palsy are impaired muscle movements and coordination.

It is not easy to recognize the signs of cerebral palsy in an infant. Jerky and sudden movements – similar to cerebral palsy – may be the first sign that is recognized.

However, the signs become more apparent as the child ages. Cerebral palsy’s main types are:

Spastic cerebral palsy: stiff muscles that affect either one side or the whole body are characteristic of this type of cerebral palsy.

Athetoid cerebral palsy: movements are slow, jerky, uncontrollable movements.

Ataxic cerebral palsy: a type of cerebral palsy where the coordination and balance are off.

Mixed cerebral palsy: This condition usually is made of symptoms of other cerebral palsy types.

Cerebral Palsy Symptoms that May be Displayed by a Child

An evaluation by a doctor is important if your child is displaying any cerebral palsy symptoms. A primary symptom of cerebral palsy is developmental delays.

As an infant grows they conquer milestones through to early childhood. If you notice your child not meeting these milestones, you should bring your child to see a doctor.

Some developmental delays to be aware of are:

*Head movements are uncontrollable after 2 months

*after 10 months, if the child doesn’t sit up on their own

*The child is not crawling after one year

*the child’s body drags on one side

*the child is not walking after 2 years

Child’s posture and early hand preference are two other signs to be aware of when considering cerebral palsy. When a child shows preference for one hand over the other before the age of one they should be evaluated by a doctor.

Other Symptoms, Associated Conditions and Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis

When a child is born with cerebral palsy they may also have some of these associated conditions:

*Seizures

*Breathing problems

*Vision, speech, or hearing impairments

*Challenged in their mental development

When your child exhibits any of these signs it is important that they be evaluated by a doctor. Several tests may be given to help with a diagnosis. These tests may include, but are not limited to, EEG, CT scan and MRI.

Your child’s cerebral palsy may have been due to medical negligence during the birth process. These sort of cases could have been avoided.

If you believe that medical negligence is to blame for your child’s cerebral palsy, you should contact a medical attorney right a way for an evaluation of your case and advise as to your legal rights.

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