Types of Cerebral Palsy

Irreversible and debilitating, cerebral palsy is a non-progressive neurological condition that significantly impairs an individual's ability to think, speak and coordinate his/her movements.

Medical Mistakes May Lead to Cerebral Palsy

In many cases, the precise cause of cerebral palsy is unknown. However, medical mistakes made before, during or after the birthing process can cause a child to be born with cerebral palsy.

In these instances, injured babies and their families may be entitled to compensation and lifetime benefits by pursuing a birth injury lawsuit. Parents of infants with cerebral palsy can find out if they have a case by meeting with one of our experienced affiliated CP lawyers in a no-obligation consultation. If your child was born with cerebral palsy, call (866) 251-0808.

Differences in Cerebral Palsy Cases

Because cerebral palsy results from brain damage, the type of CP a child develops will depend on:

• the area of the brain injured
• the severity of the brain injury

Various types of cerebral palsy include:

• Ataxic cerebral palsy, in which damage to the cerebellum affects coordination and movement. Marked by poor muscle tone, ataxic cerebral palsy occurs in about 5 to 10 percent of CP cases, making it the least common form of the condition.
• Athetoid cerebral palsy, in which damage to the midbrain causes writhing movements, difficulty holding posture and speech impediments. About 25 percent of CP cases are diagnosed as athetoid cerebral palsy.
• Diplegia cerebral palsy, in which damage to multiple parts of the brain causes spasticity and excessive muscle tone in the legs, hips and pelvic region. As the most common type of CP, diplegia cerebral palsy affects about 70 percent of all CP patients.
• Hemiplegia cerebral palsy, in which damage to multiple parts of the brain affect a patient's control over the right or left side of his body. About 1 in every 1,000 children is diagnosed with hemiplegia cerebral palsy.
• Mild cerebral palsy, in which minimal brain injury only causes slight, possibly undetectable, impairments.
• Mixed cerebral palsy, in which a patient suffers from a combination of two or more types of cerebral palsy. Roughly 10 percent of CP patients are diagnosed with mixed cerebral palsy.
• Quadriplegia cerebral palsy, in which brain and spinal cord injury impairs an individual's ability to move and/or feel both arms, legs and other parts of the body.
• Spastic cerebral palsy, in which damage to the outer layer of the brain causes uncontrollable movement, increased muscle tone and limited range of motion.

Regardless of the type of cerebral palsy a child develops, parents should meet with one of our affiliated CP attorneys to find out if they have a legal claim and are entitled to compensation for their losses. Most cases of cerebral palsy require life-long treatment programs and care which can add up quick. The affiliated birth injury lawyers of Litigators Incorporated, P.C. are dedicated to helping your family secure the compensation you need to provide your child with the best resources and care possible.

Has your child been born with Cerebral Palsy? If so, contact the affiliated attorneys of Litigators Incorporated, P.C. for help today. Call toll free (866) 251-0808.