Know the Types of Cerebral Palsy

Library Articles | October 19, 2017

If this article sounds similar to a recent experience that you or a loved one have suffered from, please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call 859-578-4444 to schedule a free consultation!

Cerebral Palsy Comes in Many Forms

According to statistics, only about 8,000 babies are diagnosed with cerebral palsy each year in the United States.  For those who don’t have to face this heartbreaking condition or wonder what their child’s future will be like, this number doesn’t sound so bad.  Yet, for the 8,000 families who have had to face the tragedy of hearing that their loved one has cerebral palsy, this statistic brings a lot of uncertainty and sadness.

If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which can result from a birth injury, you need to understand the different classifications of this condition.  Cerebral palsy can be classified into the following categories:

  1. Spastic cerebral palsy: This is the most common form of cerebral palsy.  It is characterized by muscle stiffness and contractions. Spastic cerebral palsy accounts for as many as 80 percent of all cerebral palsy cases.
  2. Athetoid cerebral palsy: When a child suffers from this type of cerebral palsy, he or she may experience slow muscle movements, some of which are uncontrolled.  It results from damage to the cerebellum or basal ganglia.
  3. Ataxic cerebral palsy:  Children who have ataxic cerebral palsy have difficulty with balance and depth perception.  It is caused by damage to the cerebellum.

If you believe your child has sustained cerebral palsy due to the negligence of a doctor or other medical provider, you could be entitled to compensation. For a free case evaluation, contact an experienced Louisville birth injury attorney at the Law Office of Hendy Johnson Vaughn Emery at (859) 578-4444 or (888) 606-5297.

You can also contact us by filling out our online form. We represent cases in Ohio and Kentucky.

You can learn more about cerebral palsy in the following articles on our website:

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