Mixed Cerebral Palsy
Mixed cerebral palsy is combination of two forms of CP and, in rare cases, all three types
The cerebral palsy lawyers at Elk & Elk Co., Ltd., want their clients to be informed about the types of cases they handle and about which medical conditions apply. With that in mind, we provide information and resources for our clients’ education.
Although we do have 50 years’ experience representing cerebral palsy victims, we are not medical doctors and do not intend this information to be used as medical advice. These Web resources, educational links and articles are for informational purposes only. You should seek a medical opinion from a trained, certified health care professional for any diagnoses.
About mixed CP
Mixed cerebral palsy affects about 10 percent of individuals diagnosed with CP, research shows. It may involve symptoms of two or all three of the cerebral palsies:
- Ataxic: affecting balance and depth perception
- Athetoid: characterized by slow, uncontrolled, writhing movements of the hands, feet, arms or legs
- Spastic: causes the muscles to be stiff and permanently contracted
“About 10 percent of children with cerebral palsy have what is known a mixed-type cerebral palsy,” reads the website about-cerebral-palsy.org. “These children have both the tight muscle tone of spastic cerebral palsy and the involuntary movements of athetoid cerebral palsy. This is because they have injuries to both the pyramidal and extrapyramidal areas of the brain. Usually the spasticity is more obvious at first, with involuntary movements increasing when the child is between 9 months and 3 years old. The most common mixed form includes spasticity and athetoid movements, but other combinations are also possible.”
Cerebral palsy results from damage sustained by different parts of a developing brain. It can occur before, during and after birth.
Call 1-800-ELK-OHIO for a free consultation if your child has been diagnosed with mixed cerebral palsy
If you or someone you know has given birth to a baby diagnosed with cerebral palsy and the evidence points to substandard perinatal care, you may have a right to compensation to help you and your family deal with the lifelong costs and challenges associated with caring for someone with CP.
Give Elk & Elk’s medical malpractice team a call at 1-800-ELK-OHIO for a free, no obligation case consultation, or contact us online. It’s fast. It’s free. There’s no pressure and if you do have a case, you will owe us nothing unless we have a successful outcome for you.
Mixed Cerebral Palsy Facts
The signs of cerebral palsy vary greatly because there are many types and levels of disability. The main sign that your child might have cerebral palsy is a delay reaching the motor or movement milestones. If you see any of these signs, call your child’s doctor or nurse.
A child over 2 months with cerebral palsy might:
- Have difficulty controlling the head when picked up
- Have stiff legs that cross or “scissor” when picked up
A child over 6 months with cerebral palsy might:
- Continue to have a hard time controlling the head when picked up
- Reach with only one hand while keeping the other in a fist
A child over 10 months with cerebral palsy might:
- Crawl by pushing off with one hand and leg while dragging the opposite hand and leg
- Not sit by himself or herself
A child over 12 months with cerebral palsy might:
- Not crawl
- Not be able to stand with support
A child over 24 months with cerebral palsy might:
- Not be able to walk
- Not be able to push a toy with wheels
(Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Cerebral palsy is caused by a brain injury or problem during pregnancy, birth or the first two to three years of a child’s life. Cerebral palsy can be caused by:
- Problems from premature birth
- Not getting enough blood, oxygen or other nutrients before or during birth
- A serious head injury
- A serious infection such as meningitis that can affect the brain
- Problems passed from parent to child (genetic conditions) that affect brain development
In many cases, the exact cause of cerebral palsy is not known.
(Source: WebMD)
Schedule a free consultation today
It is normal to have questions after a diagnosis of cerebral palsy. Let the lawyers at Elk & Elk help you find the answers you need. Call 1-800-ELK-OHIO or contact us online to schedule a free consultation, and ask us about our no fee promise.
