New York Birth Injury Lawyers
Helping Sufferers of Athetoid Cerebral Palsy

When an injury to the brain is inflicted on a child during birth, one of the most common results is the development of cerebral palsy.  This unfortunate condition does not have a cure despite all that’s been learned about the disease in recent years, and parents who have a child who has contracted cerebral palsy need to seek the help of New York birth injury attorneys as soon as possible.  Below is a brief overview of one of the several types of cerebral palsy that’s known as athetoid cerebral palsy.

Athetoid Cerebral Palsy – A Brief Introduction

Athetoid cerebral palsy is one of the forms of cerebral palsy, and an estimated 15 percent of people who have cerebral palsy suffer from this form of it.  Athetoid cerebral palsy is generally the result after an injury has been inflicted on the basal ganglia, which is located in the midbrain.  This type of cerebral palsy features distinct symptoms.

Generally, those who suffer from athetoid cerebral palsy endure slow, writhing movements of different muscle groups.  Some of these muscle groups have too much tone develop, and others do not have enough tone.  Therefore, the patient tends to lose control of that muscle group in regards to the movements that can appear as minor spastic episodes.

The most common and troubling muscle group that’s affected is the facial muscles.  Sufferers of athetoid cerebral palsy may be unable to control the position of their mouths, which can be stuck in a constant state of frowning, and they may also suffer from constant or regular drooling.  Athetoid cerebral palsy can also affect the feet, legs, arms and hands.

Treatment for Athetoid Cerebral Palsy

As stated above, there is no cure for any form of cerebral palsy.  Therefore, those who suffer from athetoid cerebral palsy will generally face a lifetime of taking medications to help minimize the symptoms and constant, ongoing physical therapy to help patients better control the muscle groups that are affected and to help them develop more effective speech patterns for those whose condition affects their mouths and tongues.

How New York Birth Injury Lawyers Can Help

If your child has been diagnosed with athetoid cerebral palsy and you believe it’s the result of an injury that was inflicted during the birthing process, you need to focus your attention on the treatment and care of your child.  Helping to nurture someone who has this condition can be rewarding, as many who suffer from this condition manage to live productive and happy lives.

Therefore, you need to seek the help of New York birth injury lawyers who have been holding medical professionals whose mistakes have led to this diagnosis accountable for nearly 40 years.  Contact Fitzgerald & Fitzgerald today to schedule a free initial consultation.