Cerebral Palsy Associated With Seizure Disorders
Cerebral palsy (CP) is usually caused by an injury to the brain before, during, or shortly after birth. When the injury to the brain causes confusion, disorganization, or overactivity in the way that brain signals are transmitted, a child may suffer from seizures or involuntary brain activity. Nearly half of children with CP suffer seizures; about one-third also develop a seizure disorder such as epilepsy.
There are two types of seizures that are common in children with CP:
- Tonic-clonic: These are very severe. As the seizure begins, the child suddenly cries out. He or she may lose consciousness. The child begins to shake violently and may twitch and convulse for several minutes. After the seizure, the child regains consciousness. He or she may have no memory of the seizure and appear very confused.
- Partial seizures: Partial seizures are less severe. They occur when the parts of the brain that direct movement fire electric impulses that are misdirected. Often a single body part begins to move involuntarily and shake, twitch or become numb. Other symptoms of partial seizures include loss of memory, sparkling flashes, smelling unpleasant odors, sudden change in gait, hallucinations, or a sensation of fear.
Epilepsy is a disorder in which brain activity causes repeated seizures over time. It may be treated with anti-seizure drugs.
If your child has suffered a seizure, your doctor will prescribe an EEG exam to check for seizure disorders. However, seizure disorders are often hard to diagnose in young children and newborns. It may take time to get a diagnosis.
If your child is suffering from cerebral palsy and epilepsy caused by a birth injury, you have the right to seek compensation for your child’s medical expenses. To learn more about Tennessee cerebral palsy lawsuits, contact the Memphis birth injury attorneys at Bailey and Greer at 901-680-9777. Be sure to request a free copy of our book, How to Cope With and Survive Tennessee BirthInjuries.
Since graduating magna cum laude in 2005 from the University of Memphis School of Law, Thomas has helped make a difference in the lives of victims of serious personal injury, wrongful death, and professional negligence. Thomas has extensive trial experience in both state and federal court. Among other victories in the courtroom, Thomas obtained several impressive jury verdicts and settlements
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