Cerebral palsy can be caused by a number of different issues, but one that stands out is when the developing child’s brain is starved of oxygen for too long. This leads to cell death and permanent brain damage. It can happen, for instance, if a doctor makes a mistake during the delivery and cuts off the child’s airflow.
Many times, parents do not know that their child has cerebral palsy right away. Some of the symptoms may only show up over time or they may notice key developmental issues when the child does not hit certain common milestones. Parents need to know what symptoms to look out for, as this disorder can impact things like:
- Reflexes
- Posture
- Balance
- Muscle tone, control and coordination
- Oral motor functioning
- Fine and gross motor skills
The nature of the symptoms depend on the severity of the injury and may be slightly different in every case.
However, you can see why it may take time to make a diagnosis. If the impact is to fine motor skills or oral motor functioning, parents may not notice immediately because a newborn already lacks these skills. Only as the child grows up and continues to develop will they notice that he or she is not developing as expected. Then, it may be time to talk to a medical professional.
Finding out that your child has cerebral palsy can be challenging, as the child may need extra care for life. If you believe that a doctor’s mistake is what caused this disorder, you may need to look into your legal options, as well.