A child can be diagnosed with cerebral palsy from birth through his toddler years. Because every child develops at his or her own pace, it may be difficult to diagnose in an older child. If a child is not developing appropriate motor skills by the time they are around eighteen months of age, or if they exhibit weakness or paralysis of limbs, it is a definite cause for concern.

Cerebral palsy is an open term used to describe a myriad of brain disorders that affect the central nervous system. These disorders generally affect muscle control, coordination, and body movement, making learning large or fine motor skills extremely difficult.

Because of the way the muscles are affected with cerebral palsy, physical therapy is an important part of treatment. Directly after a firm diagnosis of cerebral palsy has been made, the child should be put into physical therapy to facilitate alleviating any pain and stiffness or to help build muscles.

Infants or children diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy will have stiff and jerky movements. They may have a difficult time moving from one position to another. Fine motor skills, such as holding a pair of scissors or learning to button a shirt, may be very difficult to master, as children with spastic cerebral palsy often have a hard time holding and letting go of objects. Some sufferers of this condition are only affected in one or two limbs, usually the legs, while there are others who are affected in all four limbs, possibly resulting in paralysis. Physical therapy is very important for these children, as it will help their muscles stretch and grow with the bones. Medication may also be prescribed to relax the muscles and allow joints to move more easily.

Althetoid cerebral palsy is another form of the disorder. In althetoid cerebral palsy, infants and children will have low muscle tone and may have difficulty holding their face and arms in an upright position. They may also have involuntary, spastic movements of the trunk and arms. Some children with this type of cerebral palsy have a hard time learning to swallow and may drool uncontrollably. Physical therapy to build up their muscles is important, and speech therapy may help the child learn to better control their mouth.

Children with cerebral palsy may also have other medical conditions to deal with as well. In addition to varying degrees of physical impairment, they may be prone to seizures and may be mentally handicapped. Intelligence tests preformed by the physician will be able to help diagnose these problems. If the child suffers from seizures, anti-seizure medication will probably be prescribed to help slow the seizures. Some medications may even stop the seizures completely.

All children and infants who have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy should have a team of doctors gathered to discuss treatment for the disorder. As a child who has cerebral palsy grows, the condition will not worsen but may change, causing different symptoms. Doctors need to be constantly evaluating any child with cerebral palsy in order to keep their treatment effective.

Cerebral palsy in a child is a terrible thing for any parent to have to contemplate. Even more frightening is having to worry about paying for the various medical expenses that may be incurred while treating the disorder. A majority of children who suffer from cerebral palsy received it during or directly after their delivery from a mistake made by the attending physician. If your infant or child was given a diagnosis of cerebral palsy and you believe it was from a physician’s error, it is important that you contact an experienced birth injury lawyer to see if you are entitled to compensation. While the money will not equal the difficulties your child will have to handle for the rest of his or her life, it may make it easier to properly care for him or her, allowing you all to have a richer, more fulfilling life.