Common Signs of Cerebral Palsy in Michigan

Symptoms for cerebral palsy are usually seen before a child is 2 years old, and sometimes begin as early as 3 months. Parents may notice that their child is presenting a delay in developmental stages such as sitting, rolling, crawling, or walking. Signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy can vary, however when a child is suffering from CP they may present one or more of the following common signs:

Developmental delay or delays in reaching motor skills milestones
Abnormal muscle tone
Lack of muscle coordination (ataxia)
Unusual posture
Persistent infant reflexes
Difficulty hearing or seeing
Seizures
Early development of hand preference
Excessive drooling or problems with swallowing
Difficulty with sucking or eating

Many of times a child is not diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth because the signs are not always visible at that time. Besides very severe cases, signs of cerebral palsy may not appear until the first three to five years of a child’s life as the brain and child develop. Due to the fact that the cerebral palsy is a brain disorder that does not get worse over time, the symptoms and signs usually do not worsen with age as well.

Symptoms & Common Types of Cerebral Palsy

There are several different types of cerebral palsy. Some people have a mixture of symptoms. Symptoms of spastic cerebral palsy, the most common type, include:

Muscles that are very tight and do not stretch. They may tighten up even more over time.
Abnormal walk (gait): arms tucked in toward the sides, knees crossed or touching, legs make “scissors” movements, walk on the toes
Joints are tight and do not open up all the way (called joint contracture)
Muscle weakness or loss of movement in a group of muscles (paralysis)
The symptoms may affect one arm or leg, one side of the body, both legs, or both arms and legs

The following symptoms may occur in other types of cerebral palsy:

Abnormal movements (twisting, jerking, or writhing) of the hands, feet, arms, or legs while awake, which gets worse during periods of stress
Tremors
Unsteady gait
Loss of coordination
Floppy muscles, especially at rest, and joints that move around too much

Other brain and nervous system symptoms:

Decreased intelligence or learning disabilities are common, but intelligence can also be normal
Speech problems (dysarthria)
Hearing or vision problems
Seizures
Pain, especially in adults (can be difficult to manage)

Eating and digestive symptoms:

Difficulty sucking or feeding in infants, or chewing and swallowing in older children and adults
Problems swallowing (at all ages)
Vomiting or constipation

Other symptoms:

Increased drooling
Slower than normal growth
Irregular breathing
Urinary incontinence

If your child is experience any of the above symptoms and you believe your child suffers from cerebral palsy, contact our experienced cerebral palsy attorneys immediately to discuss your case and learn your legal options. When medical malpractice causes cerebral palsy to your child you do have legal rights and may be able to receive compensation and lifetime benefits for your child. These types of cases are very complex and require the expertise of a skilled and experienced lawyer.

If Your Child Has Common Signs of Cerebral Palsy, Call a Lawyer

At the law firm of Buckfire & Buckfire, our award winning law firm has a team of top rated attorneys that specialize in the area of birth injury and cerebral palsy lawsuits. We have a reputation of providing expert personalized service to our clients and you will directly with an attorney, not a paralegal or law clerk like most other firms. We have helped thousands of families attain the lifetime benefits and compensation they need to care for their child. We can do the same for you. Call today for your free, no obligation case review. We will represent you in your child’s cerebral palsy lawsuit under our No Win, No Fee Promise. This means no legal fees or costs until you win or recover a settlement. Call now!