CEREBRAL PALSY ATTORNEY
In conjunction with handling your case, a Cerebral Palsy Attorney will monitor the treatment and management of the injury in order to prepare for trial. Though not involved in actual medical care, a Cerebral Palsy Attorney can make sure that the medical treatment provided will enable proof of damages to be offered at trial. Cerebral palsy is not considered a curable condition and the word "management" is used more often than "treatment". However, there is much that can be done to lessen the effects of cerebral palsy and to help people with cerebral palsy to lead independent lives. This is a brief overview of some of the available options.
Therapy Types
- Physical Therapy (PT) aims to help people achieve their potential for physical independence and mobility. PT includes exercises, correct positioning, and teaching alternate ways of movement such as walkers, bracing or handling a wheelchair.
- Occupational Therapy (OT) designs purposeful activities to increase independence through fine motor skills. OT's help children to use adaptive equipment such as feeding, seating and bathroom aids.
- Speech Therapy aims at improving communication. A child may only need help to overcome a slight articulation problem, or she may not be able to communicate verbally and may require a non-verbal communication system. Alternative communication systems include eye-gaze systems, and electronic voice synthesizers.
- Music Therapy uses music for the treatment of neurological mental or behavioral disorders.
- New therapies are being developed all the time. Contact your local Cerebral Palsy Association for information on alternative treatments.
Orthotics, Casts and Splints
Most children with cerebral palsy will be prescribed orthotics, casts or splints to supplement their therapy programs. These should be custom made for your child and help to provide stability, keep joints in position, and help stretch muscles.
Medications
Your child may take medication for conditions associated with cerebral palsy, such as seizures. Drugs may sometimes be prescribed for severe spasticity or painful spasms. Spasticity can be temporarily reduced by nerve blocking injections. A recent development is the injection of botulinum toxin ("Botox") into a spastic muscle group. This can reduce tone for several months.
Surgery
Orthopedic and soft-tissue surgery can help to counter the damaging effects of spasticity on the spine, hips and legs. Surgery can lengthen or transfer tendons, enabling the child to move more easily. When the child has finished growing, bone surgery may help reposition and stabilize bones. Neurosurgery involves surgery on the nerve roots which control muscle tone. Selective posterior rhizotomy aims to reduce spasticity by severing some of the nerve roots in the spine.
Adaptive Equipment
An enormous range of aids and adaptive equipment are now available for people with disabilities. As the number of elderly people in the United States increases, more daily living aids are coming onto the market.
Mobility Devices include:
wheelchairs (manual, power and sports)
scooters
specially made bicycles and tricycles
walkers and crutches
Communication Devices include:
symbol boards
voice synthesizers
head sticks and keyguards for computers
Daily Living Aids include:
electronic door openers
large-handled eating utensils
grab sticks
environmental control systems
Some equipment is available through provincial health and social service systems. These vary across the country. A knowledgeable Cerebral Palsy Attorney can advise you what is available in your area.
Educational Supports
Many children with cerebral palsy will also have some type of learning disability. Assessment by a psychologist, and the support of special educators can reduce the handicapping effects of a learning disability. Children with cerebral palsy will often start their education early to help improve their mobility and communication skills before starting school.
Most children with cerebral palsy will receive an integrated education enabling them to mix with their peers in their neighborhood school. A child with mild cerebral palsy may simply require minor program adjustments. For example, he may need a little more time to write an exam if his hand control is poor. A child with more severe disabilities may require considerable support from resource staff and teaching assistants. Children should have an Individualized Education Plan (I.E.P.) which assesses the child's performance, sets goals and specifies which supports are required. A good partnership between parents and educators will help children to achieve their goals.
A Cerebral Palsy Attorney will provide a FREE consultation and work on a contingency fee, which means there will be No Fee unless money is recovered by injury settlement or by winning your case. A Cerebral Palsy Attorney will investigate your case at no charge.
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