In the term ‘cerebral palsy,’ cerebral means of, or having to do with, the cerebrum. Called the telencephalon during fetal development, the cerebrum together with the diencephalon make up the forebrain, the outer-most area of the brain just behind the forehead and underneath the most forward looking portion of the skull. The word palsy refers to the uncontrolled muscle movements that are characteristic of the disorder. Cerebral Palsy is neither progressive nor contagious. If your child has CP, you should contact a birth injury attorney.
Cerebral Palsy is caused by damage to the motor control centers of the immature brain. The brain does not complete development until the very late teens, but the motor control centers generally reach maturity before the fourth birthday. An estimated seventy-five per cent of CP cases are due to damage to the fetal brain during pregnancy. Five per cent of cases are caused by brain damage during birth. The remaining cases occur fifteen per cent of cases occur before the age of four.
A birth injury attorney is vital because cerebral palsy is a permanent condition. It affects the development of movement, muscle control and posture. The motor control disabilities can also be accompanied by epilepsy, disabilities in cognition, perception, communication and sensation. Behavioral problems and secondary problems with development of the muscles and skeleton are also common.
