Children with cerebral palsy often require a variety of treatments and therapies. It is important to note that there is a difference between the words “treatment” and “therapy” although they are usually used together. The word therapy refers to methods used to rehabilitate a patient. On the other hand, the word treatment is used in the sense of a cure. So, in the context of cerebral palsy, therapy is not meant to cure the victim’s condition, but help him or her manage and decrease symptoms.
Types of Therapies for Cerebral Palsy
When a child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy, it can be truly devastating for the entire family. One of the most common causes of cerebral palsy is injury that occurs during childbirth. If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, it is important to know that a variety of medical specialists and therapists are available to help your child cope with his or her condition.
There are a number of doctors, nurses and specialists who can help your child. They may include child development specialists who track growth and milestones. Occupational therapists who help children with activities such as work, school and even sports. Massage therapists can help reduce muscle tightness or discomfort.
Physical therapists can help evaluate and improve your child’s movement and mobility. Psychologists can help with cognitive therapy. In addition, you may also wish to seek the support of special education teachers and speech and language therapists who help improve the child’s speech.
Common Forms of Therapy
Here are some of the common forms of therapy that can help a child with cerebral palsy:
Occupational therapy: Many children with cerebral palsy face serious challenges when it comes to routine activities. Occupational therapy can help them become more active and independent. This type of therapy can help children work on sensory or motor skill issues that has an impact on everything from caring for themselves to playing. An occupational therapist may begin by evaluating a child’s abilities and what he or she struggles with, and based on those findings, make recommendations for the child to play and learn more effectively.
Physical therapy: Physical therapy is often the first step in rehabilitating children with cerebral palsy. It can help improve motor skills and prevent movement problems from getting worse over time. Physical therapy includes strength and flexibility exercises, massages, heat therapy and the use of special equipment designed to give children more independence. Beginning physical therapy as early as possible gives children the best chance at improvement. Physical therapists can recommend exercises to help children with cerebral palsy gain movement, strength and flexibility.
Speech therapy: Many children with cerebral palsy experience difficulty speaking clearly. This is because cerebral palsy can affect muscles throughout the body, including those that enable a person to talk. Speech therapy is conducted by a speech pathologist in group settings or one-on-one at home. Early intervention is again essential when it comes to benefiting from speech therapy.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Cerebral palsy often occurs as a result of brain damage stemming from negligence (carelessness) during labor and delivery. It is the responsibility of medical professionals to monitor the condition of the fetus and the mother and make decisions that would reduce or eliminate risks during delivery. If your child has cerebral palsy, he or she may be able to receive compensation that helps pay for medical expenses, lost income, cost of therapy, future treatments, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc.
The experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. One of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
We have seen many cases where New York City Health and Hospital Corporation facilities deliver babies who are born with cerebral palsy or Brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) stemming from negligence (carelessness), and/or medical malpractice in the labor and delivery etc. of the children.
The following list identifies some of these hospitals (operated by New York City Health and Hospital Corporation):
• Jacobi Hospital aka Bronx Municipal 1400 Pelham Parkway South Bronx, New York 10461 718-918-5000
• Lincoln Hospital 234 East 149th Street Bronx, New York 10451 718-579-5000
• North Central Bronx Hospital 3424 Kossuth Avenue Bronx, New York 10467 718-519-5000
• Coney Island Hospital 2601 Ocean Parkway Brooklyn, New York 11235 718-616-3000
• Kings County Hospital 451 Clarkson Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11203 718-245-3131
• Woodhull Hospital 760 Broadway Brooklyn, New York 11206 718-963-8000
• Bellevue Hospital 462 First Avenue New York, New York 10016 212-562-5555
• Harlem Hospital 506 Lenox Avenue New York, New York 10037 212-939-1000
• Metropolitan Hospital 1901 First Avenue New York, New York 10029 212-423-6262
• Elmhurst Hospital 79-01 Broadway Elmhurst, New York 11373 718-334-4000
• Queens Hospital Center 82-68 164th Street Jamaica, New York 11432 718-883-3000
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury and/or medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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