Described as a “magic moment” by his teacher in an ABC News story, Matt Woodrum’s crossing of the finish line at a school field day race on May 16, 2012 brought his classmates to their feet and an opportunity to highlight awareness of the challenges and victories cerebral palsy sufferers face. Cerebral palsy affects motor skills, muscle tone and movement. It can also lead to certain negative health issues that include speech problems, learning disabilities, hearing impairment, and visual impairment. Cerebral palsy in children is most often caused by brain damage that occurs during or before birth. Occasionally, cerebral palsy in children occurs during the first three to five years of a child’s life.

Cerebral Palsy in Children is not Curable

Unfortunately, there is no cure for cerebral palsy; however, certain treatments, special equipment, therapies, and sometimes surgery can assist in the quality of life of a child with cerebral palsy. One of the most common congenital childhood disorders, cerebral palsy has been categorised into three types as listed below.

• Ataxic cerebral palsy. This type of cerebral palsy results in a disruption in balance and depth perception.
• Athetoid cerebral palsy. This type of cerebral palsy results in uncontrolled and involuntary movements of the body.
• Spastic cerebral palsy. This type of cerebral palsy results in movement difficulties and stiffness.
  Affecting coordination and muscle control, cerebral palsy makes even simple movements, difficult. In addition cerebral affects its victim’s vital functions of motor skills and muscles, affecting such normal activities as breathing, bowel control, bladder control, eating and learning. Cerebral palsy in children does not get worse over time, but also doesn’t get better over time either.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy in Children are Sometimes Unknown

Causes of cerebral palsy in children for specific cases are usually unknown. However, problems during pregnancy in which brain damage has occurs or in which the brain doesn’t develop normally are often suspect in cases of cerebral palsy in children. Brain damage in pregnancy can be caused by maternal health problems, infections or developmental abnormalities. In some cases, delivery accidents or problems can cause cerebral palsy in children. In particular premature babies (those born weighing less than 1,510 grams (3.3 pounds) are at higher risk of having cerebral palsy than those babies carried to full term. And, low birth weights are often associated with multiple births, meaning that twins and triplets have an increased risk factor of having cerebral palsy.

Contact Experienced Cerebral Palsy Lawyers in Ontario for Assistance

Sometimes, however, the brain injury that causes cerebral palsy in a child is traced back to mistakes made by healthcare providers during delivery. In such cases, you are entitled under Ontario law to seek damages for such substandard healthcare. And, while suing a physician isn’t pleasant, the future of your child and his or her comfort commands that you take action to secure the financial burdens of dealing with a child who has cerebral palsy. If you think that your child’s cerebral palsy condition was the result of the neglect or mistake by a delivering physician or other healthcare provider, be aware that you are entitled to compensation for your losses.