Some important information about cerebral palsy

Any injury that an infant suffers during birth may be referred to as a birth injury. An infant may suffer or acquire such injuries at any stage of the birthing process including during delivery by medical practitioners. If a child suffers injury during birth, medical negligence could be the cause.

It is very important to remember that the baby is extremely vulnerable to any physical injury and the doctor must proceed carefully. Often, forceps used during childbirth may lead to permanent brain and head injury. Cerebral palsy is one of the most prominent examples of birth injuries in Connecticut.

One of the best ways to deal with cerebral palsy is early diagnosis. Cerebral palsy diagnosis can be made by monitoring the child’s developmental behavior, screening such development and medically evaluating the developmental records.

Monitoring a child’s development is also known as surveillance. It tracks the child’s development as well as growth over time. Thereafter, the medical practitioner can observe and monitor the child’s behavioral development by addressing any concerns that the parents might have regarding the development of their child. The developmental growth is regularly monitored and updated with each diagnostic exam.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has suggested regular screenings at ages nine months, 18 months and later at 24 months or even 30 months. Screenings at such regular intervals can be the first step to diagnosing cerebral palsy and the doctor can begin treatment, which can prove valuable to the child. If there is any concern, the parents may wish to consider seeking additional professional help as the child’s best defense lies in early detection and diagnosis.

Source: CDC.gov, “Screening and diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy”, accessed on Oct. 22, 2014