Legal and Medical Resources to Empower Cerebral Palsy Families
1-800-CPFamily (273-2645)
By Lee Vanderloop Many children with cerebral palsy are diagnosed shortly after birth. Others, however, may go months or even years with no diagnosis, losing valuable time for early therapy and other treatment. So, how is a parent struggling with the question “is my child developing normally?” supposed to tell? The first thing to know [...]
It may seem unusual that it could take years for a child to be diagnosed with cerebral palsy, but each year at least 1,500 children in the U.S. are diagnosed for the first time when they reach preschool age, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Any of the following can cause cerebral [...]
Because children grow on very different timetables, developmental delays can go undiagnosed for years. Delays in three to four year old children often are diagnosed by pre-school staff or trained day care workers who are in a good position to notice that children are not learning tasks or engaging socially on a level with their [...]
The most important conversations to have with your doctor are those regarding concerns about your child’s development. You know your child best and studies have shown that parents are the first to detect 70-80% of all disabilities in children. The delay in reaching developmental milestones is usually the first symptom of CP. If you have [...]
Cerebral Palsy is most frequently diagnosed during the 12 – 24 month period of a young child’s life. This is when toddlers begin to use their muscles to crawl, stand, and feed themselves. All children have different development rates, but there are key identifiers that parents and doctors should look for to diagnose Cerebral Palsy. [...]
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In October, I wrote several articles titled “Diary of a Crisis” about a medical emergency we experienced with our daughter, Danielle. Danielle has suffered from severe spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy since birth. The past 18 months have been a constant struggle with medical professionals to get answers about our daughter's deteriorating health.
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Birthing classes and many books about pregnancy help parents-to-be prepare for the birth experience and some of their choices, especially when it comes to managing pain. However, few deal with potential complications, preferring to leave that scary ”what if” in the hands of doctors. However, my experience as a practicing obstetrician for more than 20 years is that it’s vitally important for parents to know what standards of care are and how to advocate for themselves and their child if these standards are not being met.
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