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Treatment Options for Cerebral Palsy

May 24th, 2009 No comments
by Josie Minegan

Cerebral palsy is a condition without a cure, but there are numerous treatment options. Cerebral palsy treatments are chosen based on what is best suited to an individual child's needs.

Treatments help them gain better movement of their muscles. Treatments can also help with vision and hearing problems and seizures. Therapists, pediatricians, psychologists and other experts create plans for the patient based on their needs. The child is observed and tests are run so the professionals can determine what is best for them. Some treatments include:

Physical therapy - This method of therapy helps stretch the muscles of a patient with cerebral palsy. This can include exercising the muscles, massaging the muscles, and orthotic devices. The purpose of this is to help with motor control.

Speech therapy - It is sometimes difficult for patients with cerebral palsy to communicate. With speech therapy, the treatments allow them to communicate with other means.

Occupational therapy - Children can use this treatment to help you with the everyday chores such as eating or dressing.

Medication - There are medications for cerebral palsy patients that will help relax their muscles. Patients deal with muscle spasms and medications such as Botox will help those problems.

Surgery - At times surgery is another option for families that have children with cerebral palsy. This treatment can help stabilize joints, and improve tone of their muscle.

Hearing aids, eyeglasses - It is common of cerebral palsy patients to have hearing or vision problems. These treatments will help improve the impairments of the child.

Assistive technologies - New technologies are always being developed to help individuals with disabilities. Assistive technologies such as specialized wheelchairs, customized scooters, and communication devices can aid cerebral palsy children in their daily lives and with tasks they may not otherwise be able to perform.

Other CP treatments - Other cerebral palsy treatments include dolphin therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). These assist patients throughout their years.

Clinical trials - Medical professional will conduct clinical trials to be able to try to develop new treatments for children with cerebral palsy.

The Cost of Cerebral Palsy Treatment

Cerebral palsy affects many children and there is no cure for it, there are only treatments to help a patient cope with their disability. Children go through different therapies that suit their needs but the financial costs are overwhelming usually exceeding $500,000. Insurance doesn't always cover all of the costs, and the families can get stressed with all the costs. Even those who do not have insurance, the financial load are overwhelming.

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Symptoms and Treatment of Spastic Diplegia

May 21st, 2009 No comments
by Vance Salver

A form of spastic cerebral palsy is spastic diplegia. Spastic diplegia is occasionally called Littles Disease and affects the movement of the upper or lower half of the body. Spastic diplegia is like other types of cerebral palsy in the fact that it is caused by damage to the brain. In many cases it is unknown how the damage was caused and it is there at birth.

During labor and delivery is when cases of spastic diplegia occur. They occur because of a medical error that could have been prevented. Medical malpractice is common in the United States and some causes are from lack of oxygen, brain injuries such as hematoma, or infections to the mother or baby.

Families of a child that has spastic diplegia can talk to a lawyer and take action to be compensated for medical costs when their childs condition is caused by medical malpractice. Have your case looked at by a professional lawyer who deals with cerebral palsy cases right away.

Symptoms of Spastic Diplegia

There are different symptoms of spastic diplegia that vary with each child and depend on how severe the condition is. However there are some common characteristics of spastic diplegia, such as their muscle tone is tight because of this their muscles are contracted permanently. This is called hypertonia and it not only affects the limbs of the upper part of the body it also affects the legs.

Symptoms of spastic diplegia include:

*Uncontrollable muscle spasms

*Joints dont have much range of motion

*Difficulty speaking and walking

*Tightness of the muscles

*Delayed development

If your child displays any of the above signs, they need to be seen by a physician because it may be spastic diplegia. Tests such as MRI, EEG, and CT scans will be run to determine whether your child has spastic diplegia.

Treatment for Spastic Diplegia

There is no cure for spastic diplegia, which is why it is important to keep up with treatments for your child. Some treatments include physical therapy is used to give more flexibility to the muscles; medications, such as Botox, is given to patients to lessen the spasticity of the muscles. Surgery is used to reduce muscle spasticity.

Medical Malpractice and Spastic Diplegia

Although not every case is entitled to compensation however if you think your child has suffered from spastic diplegia because of medical malpractice, contact a lawyer immediately.

Some incidents that could have contributed to your childs disability are:

*Had baby by C-section or had the help of forceps

*The baby has severe jaundice

*The newborn had seizures right after birth

*An infection in the baby

Contact a lawyer that has experience in these kinds of cases, they will evaluate your case and help you get what you deserve. There are time limitations that vary state by state, so dont delay and call a lawyer today.

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