Cerebral palsy (CP) is a congenital disorder that affects muscle coordination and movement, making everyday tasks a challenge for affected children and their families. Dealing with CP can be difficult, but many children with CP are also diagnosed with co-occurring medical conditions that make life even more complicated.
If a doctor’s negligence caused your child’s CP during delivery, you have the right to hold them accountable. At Fieger Law, we help families like yours navigate these complex situations and win maximum compensation to help you care for your child.
Common Co-Occurring Conditions with CP
When a child has CP, they may also experience other medical conditions that can affect their quality of life. Here are some of the most common co-occurring conditions:
Autism
Among children with cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one of the more common co-occurring conditions. Children with CP are far more likely to be diagnosed with autism than children without CP. The CDC reports that 1 in 10 children with CP are also diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, compared to the diagnosis rate of about 1 in 36 for children without CP.
This dual diagnosis can impact your child’s social, emotional, and communicative abilities, increasing the level of care required.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD is another condition that can co-occur with CP. Around 19% of children with CP also show ADHD symptoms. It can make it difficult for a child to focus, control their impulses, and follow through with tasks, which can be especially challenging when combined with the motor difficulties of CP, requiring extra care services like behavioral and physical therapy.
Intellectual Disabilities
Children with CP are at a higher risk of having intellectual disabilities. This can affect their ability to learn at the same pace as their peers and may require specialized educational support. Around 50% of children with CP also have an intellectual disability.
Blindness and Hearing Loss
Blindness and hearing loss are sensory impairments seen in children with CP. Around 10% of CP-diagnosed children have co-occurring blindness, and 10% to 20% experience hearing loss. These impairments require specialized care and adaptive technologies, such as hearing aids or Braille-based tools, adding another layer of complexity to your child’s care needs.
Speech Impediments
Speech and language impairments affect 40% to 50% of children with CP, affecting communication abilities. This can lead to social isolation and emotional distress, exacerbating the challenges associated with CP and requiring specialized care.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that can occur alongside cerebral palsy, requiring medication and ongoing medical monitoring. Around 25% to 45% of children with CP experience some form of epilepsy. This can make CP management more complicated due to medication interactions and the need for ongoing neurological assessments.
Importance of Hiring an Experienced Birth Injury Lawyer
The repercussions of a birth injury can be lifelong, requiring specialized medical care, therapies, and accommodations for your child. To help your family receive the compensation it deserves, seek guidance from the experienced Michigan birth injury lawyers at Fieger Law.
Our birth injury lawyers are adept at navigating the complexities of cerebral palsy cases. We understand medical standards and treatments as well as the state laws surrounding birth injuries and can investigate your case to determine if medical negligence caused your child’s conditions.
Our legal team will fight for your child’s best interests and calculate how much your family is owed, including:
- Medical bills (past, current, and future)
- Physical and occupational therapy costs
- Specialized adaptive equipment and assistive devices
- Pain and suffering compensation
- Lost wages for caregiving parents
- Future loss of earnings for the child
- Rehabilitation and counseling expenses
- Home modification and accommodation costs, such as for wheelchair users
- Ongoing care and supervision expenses
- Non-economic damages related to emotional distress
Work With Fieger Law to Help Secure Your Child’s Future
CP and its co-occurring conditions can profoundly impact your child’s life. If these conditions result from medical negligence, you have the right to seek compensation for the full scope of your child’s needs.
A skilled cerebral palsy lawyer at Fieger Law can help you calculate the compensation your child will require for their current and future needs. We’ve won millions on behalf of birth injury victims and can help you get a fair settlement for your child.
Contact Fieger Law for a free consultation. We’re here to help you secure the future your child deserves, no matter where you are in the U.S.