The Long-Term Impact of Birth Injuries on Children

Your child’s birth injury often does not go away after a certain amount of time, even if they have received extensive treatment. Many birth injuries are permanent, and they will continue to affect your child for the rest of their life. Your child may need continuous medical treatment. A medical malpractice lawyer can help your family when your child has suffered a birth injury due to a doctor’s negligence.

Mobility Problems

Birth injuries often cause lasting disabilities. For example, cerebral palsy is perhaps the most common form of birth injury. This is a permanent brain injury that can lead to reduced mobility and other types of disabilities.

• Cerebral palsy can lead to the following symptoms:
• Abnormal and spastic movements, such as twitching
• Rigidity of the limbs
• Lack of coordination and an unsteady gait
• Lack of muscle tone
• Developmental delays
• Abnormal posture

There are different types of cerebral palsy, which may vary in severity. Cerebral palsy is a permanent injury, and it cannot be healed. Your child may need extensive therapy and treatment to help them live life as best as they can in the face of a permanent disability.

Cerebral palsy is not the only birth injury that can cause reduced movement. If there is trauma in the delivery, a child may suffer a serious injury to their shoulder, which can be reduced to less motion. Brachial plexus injuries are common forms of birth trauma that result when a doctor has forcefully pulled a child from the mother and done it in a negligent manner. Children may have less strength in their arms due to not recovering fully.

Behavioral Challenges

Cerebral palsy and other brain injuries are often associated with behavioral challenges that can impact a child for the rest of their life. They may require substantial mental health intervention during their childhood. Not only may birth injuries cause brain damage, but they may result in autism. Children who endure physical injuries that are associated with a doctor’s negligence may also develop other traumas.

Educational Difficulties

Brain damage associated with cerebral palsy can impact the child’s life in other areas. Many children cannot learn as others may and could require special education throughout their childhood. These children may have the following difficulties:

• Reduced attention span
• Difficulties with executive functioning
• Perceptual challenges
• Struggles with language

Difficulty with Other Functions of Daily Life

Children who suffer birth injuries are often unable to take care of themselves, both as a child and an adult. Because birth injuries often take the form of brain damage, they may have trouble speaking and even feeding themselves. Children who have suffered serious birth injuries often need around-the-clock care.

If a doctor’s negligence caused your child’s birth injury, they could be entitled to substantial financial compensation. The costs relating to a birth injury are multifold. Not only will you incur substantial economic expenses, but your child will be forced to undergo a lifetime of suffering. You can file a birth injury lawsuit against the responsible doctor to receive the compensation you deserve once you can prove their negligence.

Contact the Belleville Birth Injury Lawyers at The Cates Law Firm Today

The Belleville birth injury lawyers at The Cates Law Firm can fight on behalf of your child and family when a doctor has been negligent. The first step is to call us immediately at 618-277-3644 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation. Located in Swansea, Illinois, we serve clients in St. Louis, Belleville, East St. Louis, Edwardsville, Granite City, Waterloo, Chester, Carbondale, St. Clair County, Madison County, Monroe County, Randolph County, and other regions throughout Southern Illinois.