Cerebral palsy is a term used to define a variety of different neurological disorders. These disorders are caused by damage to the part of the brain that controls muscle tone, and as a result, sufferers of these disorders may have increased muscle tone, reduced muscle tone, or a combination of the two causing difficulty with coordination, muscle control, and body movement.

Cerebral palsy is usually associated with events that occur before or during birth, but may be acquired during the early stages of child development if the child receives a serious head trauma or infection. It is not contagious or inherited, and it is not progressive. The symptoms of cerebral palsy differ and change as children grow and their nervous systems mature.

Early signs of cerebral palsy usually occur before a child reaches three years of age. Parents may first notice that their child is not developing at a normal rate. They may not be reaching developmental milestones, such as learning to roll over, sit, stand, and walk, at the same time as other babies.

Unfortunately, it may take months or years to determine if a child is developmentally delayed. Since children develop at a different rate it is often difficult to assess if a child truly has a developmental delay, or if they are just at the other end of the normal scale of development.

There are, however, signs parents can look for to help diagnose if their child has a developmental delay that may be caused by cerebral palsy. Early signs can include difficulty mastering fine motor skills, such as holding a pair of scissors, buttoning a shirt, holding crayons, or any other task that involves the hand and fingers.

Gross motor skills are defined as the movements of the large muscles in the body. Some children who have cerebral palsy show warning signs when they have a difficult time learning to ride a tricycle, kicking a ball, or even have a hard time learning to walk. Other children may have a hard time learning to sit up, as it takes a lot of muscle tone in order for the body to hold itself upright without falling over.

If your child is showing signs that he or she has difficulty controlling his or her bladder or bowel, a limited sense of motion and sensation, poor depth perception, or an impaired sense of touch or pain, you should have your child checked by a physician or pediatrician to see if he or she is suffering from cerebral palsy.

While some of the early signs of cerebral palsy are easily overlooked as a developmental delay caused by environmental difficulties or another medical condition, other symptoms are definite indicators that a child may have cerebral palsy. This includes difficulty sucking, body tremors, frequent shaking, and difficulty moving from one position to another due to weakened muscles.

If you suspect that your child may have cerebral palsy, it is imperative that you visit a health care provider and discuss the symptoms you have noticed. The physician will then perform a series of tests in order to determine if your child has one of the forms of cerebral palsy, or if there is another explanation for the symptoms you have noticed. There is no cure for cerebral palsy, but different types of therapy may help your child be able to function more easily. Physical therapy can often help children with their fine and gross motor skills while speech therapy will help children who slur their words as a result of imbalanced muscle tone.

If your child has cerebral palsy that you feel was contracted by an error made by a physician or other medical staff, you should contact a lawyer that is experienced in dealing with birth injury lawsuits. The lawyer will be able to direct you on the path you should take in order to receive compensation for your child’s various medical bills.