Albuquerque Cerebral Palsy Lawyers

As previously mentioned, cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of neurological disorders that permanently affect muscle tone, coordination, balance, posture, and movement. It is irreversible, but it is not degenerative, meaning it does not worsen over time. 

There are several different types of CP. These include: 

• Spastic CP: Spastic CP presents with a stiffness of the muscles, resulting in jerky movements in the arms and legs. Different types of spastic CP can also have varying effects, such as difficulty speaking, immobility, and curvature of the spine. 
• Dyskinetic CP: Dyskinetic CP involves slow, writhing movements, typically of the hands, arms, legs, and/or feet. In some cases, dyskinetic CP may also involve abnormal facial muscle functioning, resulting in grimacing or drooling, among other complications.
• Ataxic CP: Ataxic CP generally affects balance, coordination, and depth perception. People with this type of CP may have difficulties with fine motor skills, including writing. They may also have difficulties controlling voluntary movements. 
• Mixed CP: Mixed CP occurs when an individual presents symptoms and effects of multiple types of CP, or when their symptoms do not perfectly line up with one of the aforementioned types. For example, some muscles may be rigid, while others may be loose and “floppy.” 

The type and severity of CP significantly affects the individual’s overall outlook. Some people with milder forms of CP may lead relatively normal lives and only require assistance for certain tasks. Others with more severe cases may require extensive, around-the-clock care. 

Cerebral palsy has been associated with numerous secondary conditions, including but not limited to:

Not everyone with cerebral palsy will experience these complications. Each individual is unique, and the exact effect of CP on a specific child will vary from one to the next.