Cerebral palsy is a lifelong neurological disorder caused by a non-progressive brain injury or malformation that occurs either before birth, at birth, or in the first few years of life during brain development. It affects body movement and muscle coordination. Cerebral Palsy affects around 1 in every 400 children in the UK.
Whilst each child will develop differently, children with cerebral palsy often need a far greater level of care than other children, which can have a huge impact on family life. Your child may require physiotherapy to support motor function, additional support with education, adaptations may need to be made to your family home and you may even need 24 hour care to assist with caring for your child at home.
Causes of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy can occur if a baby’s brain doesn’t develop normally whilst in the womb, is damaged during birth or in the early years of childhood. Some of the common causes are:
- bleeding in the baby’s brain
- reduced blood and oxygen supply to their brain
- an infection caught by the mother during pregnancy
- the brain temporarily not getting enough oxygen (asphyxiation) during a difficult birth
- meningitis
- a serious head injury
Whilst Cerebral Palsy is often an unavoidable condition, there are occasions when it is caused by an avoidable act or omission by a healthcare professional, known as clinical negligence or medical negligence.
Treatment for Cerebral Palsy
There is currently no cure for Cerebral Palsy, but a range of treatments are available to assist children and adults with the condition to live as full and independent life as possible, and these include:
- physiotherapy
- speech therapy
- occupational therapy
- treatments for feeding problems
- treatments for drooling problems
- surgery to help with movement or other problems
Cerebral Palsy Therapists for treatment
For a range of therapists that can help with treatment for Cerebral Palsy, please see the Brain Injury Group brain injury A-Z Directory which has a section dedicated to nationwide and regional therapists.
Visit the Therapies section of the Brain Injury Group A-Z Directory
Tegan’s story of diff-ability with Cerebral Palsy
At our 2015 Cerebral Palsy Conference, we were honoured to meet Sylvia Vincent and her daughter Tegan, who was then 14. Tegan, who refers to herself as being ‘diff(erently)-abled’, rather than disabled, created a film to explain to her school friends about her ‘differences’. Watch Tegan’s Story below.
How can Brain Injury Group help?
Brain Injury Group has a range of specialist lawyers who can assist.
These include:
- Education specialists who can advise you on what you can expect when your child starts school, and the additional support your child’s school must put in place.
- Clinical negligence specialists who will be able to advise whether there is a potential claim for negligence and guide you through the process should you choose to pursue a claim for compensation.
- Court of Protection specialists who will be able to assist, post settlement, with managing any compensation award
We also work closely with Independent Living Solutions, a nationwide provider of case management and rehabilitation service, and Nestor, providers of independent financial advice.
For an example of how Brain Injury Group can support your claim, read Ryan’s story here.
Contact the Brain Injury Group
- Call us on 0800 612 9660 or 03303 112541
- Email us at enquiries@braininjurygroup.co.uk
- Complete this short enquiry form and we’ll get back to you
