CDC Reports Increase in Cerebral Palsy

Posted on September 25, 2008

A new Centers for Disease Control (CDC) study has shown an increase in the number of children born with cerebral palsy. Previous numbers put the odds of a child being born with cerebral palsy at one in 666. The new study reports one in 278 children are affected.

Cerebral palsy is the most common cause of motor disabilities in children. Over 800,000 people are affected by cerebral palsy in the U.S. Reaching for the Stars, A Foundation of Hope for Children with Cerebral Palsy, hopes this new figure will serve as a wake-up call for scientists to show more interest in the disability. Though the medical field focuses on cutting edge treatment in the U.S., hundreds of thousands of children are affected by cerebral palsy, a number that shows how far we must go in preventing this.

Possible Causes
The term cerebral palsy actually refers to a number of neurological disorders that can affect children shortly before, during or after birth. While medical researchers are not sure of the exact causes, evidence points to mistakes made by doctors and nurses, such as:

• Failure to respond to fetal distress in a timely manner.
• Failure to respond to a baby’s lack of oxygen.
• Improper use of forceps or vacuum extraction.
• Prescribing inappropriate medications during pregnancy.

Symptoms and effects

• Limited motor skills or paralysis
• Seizures
• Learning disabilities
• Impaired speech.

And, while early detection can increase a baby’s chances for recovering more fully, your child may still require different types of therapy for the rest of their life, or full time in-home care and possible institutionalization.

If you believe your child’s cerebral palsy was caused by the doctors or hospitals, you might have a medical malpractice case. Contact Weiss & Paarz, P.C. to discuss how an experienced injury lawyer can help you.