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Are you the parent of a child
with a disability? Did you know that
medical malpractice could be the cause?
Was your child's birth injury caused by nature or medical
malpractice? We can investigate.
Our law firm concentrates on the
litigation of birth injuries nationwide. With an OBGYN, labor/delivery nurse and other experienced medical and legal professionals representing your rights, the
MEDLAW Legal Team offers families and children the resources and
experience necessary to successfully litigate healthcare
negligence claims.
Our medical malpractice attorneys focus on the representation of
families whose children have developed a disability as a
result of negligent medical care.
1-888-4-MEDLAW |
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Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis & Characteristics
- Diagnosis
- Cerebral palsy is diagnosed mainly by
evaluating how a baby or young child moves. The doctor will evaluate the
child’s muscle tone, which can make them appear floppy. Others have
increased muscle tone, which makes them appear stiff, or variable muscle
tone (increased at times and low at other times). The doctor will check the
child’s reflexes and look to see if the baby has developed a preference for
using his right or left hand. While most babies do not develop a hand
preference (become right- or left-handed) until at least 12 months of age,
some babies with cerebral palsy do so before six months of age. Another
important sign of cerebral palsy is the persistence of certain reflexes,
called primitive reflexes, that are normal in younger infants, but generally
disappear by 6 to 12 months of age. The doctor also will take a careful
medical history, and attempt to rule out any other disorders that could be
causing the symptoms.
Doctors typically diagnose cerebral palsy (CP) in infants by testing their
motor skills and thoroughly analyzing their medical history. A medical
history, diagnostic tests, and regular check-ups may be required to confirm
the diagnosis of CP or to eliminate the possibility of other disorders.
Unnaturally soft, relaxed, or floppy muscle tone is called hypotonia; muscle
tone that is stiff or rigid is called hypertonia. Some infants with CP have
hypotonia in the first 2 or 3 months of life and then develop hypertonia.
They also might develop an unusual posture or favor one side of the body.
A newborn held on its back and tilted so its legs are above its head will
automatically respond with the Moro reflex, extending its arms in a gesture
that resembles an embrace. This reflex usually disappears after about 6
months. Infants with cerebral palsy often retain it for an abnormally long
period.
Signs of hand preference are also observed. When an object is held in front
and to the side, infants usually do not display a tendency to use either the
right or left hand. This is normal during the first 12 months of life.
Infants with spastic hemiplegia, however, often develop hand preference
early, indicating one side of their body is stronger than the other.
The physician will look for other conditions that can be linked to CP, such
as seizures, mental impairment, and vision or hearing problems.
Intelligence tests often are administered to a child with CP to evaluate
mental impairment, but the results can be misleading and there is a risk of
underestimating intelligence. For instance, a child with movement,
sensation, or speech problems associated with CP would have difficulty
performing well on such tests.
More Information
Cerebral palsy diagnosis depends on
many factors, a team of medical professionals can make an accurate diagnosis,
and assist in determining a long-term prognosis for the child. While a medical
diagnosis can be determined, often what caused the cerebral palsy cannot be,
click here to learn more about the
possible causes of CP.
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