Diagnosis and Risks
Characteristics have been observed that seem to increase
the possibility of a child being diagnosed with cerebral
palsy. Although there are always risk factors for certain
conditions, such as cerebral palsy, this does not mean that
certain factors will always result in cerebral palsy. Some
of the risk factors that have been uncovered should be easily
recognizable to doctors as indicators.
Babies that are born with cerebral palsy are sometimes
born with breech presentation. Breech presentation
is when a baby is presented feet first as opposed to the
typical head first birth. A complicated labor and delivery
may be a sign that the infant could have cerebral palsy.
Cases of cerebral palsy are recognized by vascular or respiratory
problems that are sometimes the first sign that a baby has
suffered some brain damage or has not fully developed their
brain. There is a numbered rating scale that reflects a
newborn’s condition by checking the baby’s heart
rate, breathing, muscle tone, reflexes, and skin color in
the first minutes after birth, called the Apgar score. A
low Apgar score indicated potential problems and babies
with cerebral palsy often score a low Apgar.
Premature births and low birthweight has
been shown to correlate with cerebral palsy. The risk for
cerebral palsy increases as the weight falls. Multiple
births are also considered a risk for cerebral palsy.
Some babies with cerebral palsy have visible nervous system
malformation like an abnormally small head suggesting that
problems occurred in the development of the nervous system
when the baby was in the womb.
There are also indicators of cerebral palsy that show up
in the mother carrying the child. Maternal bleeding or severe
proteinuria late in pregnancy or vaginal bleeding during
the sixth to ninth months of pregnancy is linked to higher
risk of cerebral palsy babies. Mothers who have hyperthyroidism,
mental retardation, or seizures are also more likely to
have a child with cerebral palsy. Seizures in the newborn
child can also indicate a higher risk of being diagnosed
with cerebral palsy later in childhood.
The
Center for Cerebral Palsy represents attorneys throughout
the United States providing information and legal advice
for victims.
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