Types of Cerebral Palsy: Athetoid

Athetoid Cerebral Palsy is the second most common of the four types of cerebral palsy, accounting for approximately 20% of all children with the disability.

Contact Our Lawyers to Review aCEREBRAL PALSY LAWSUIT

• Find Out If Your Child is Entitled to Birth Injury Benefits
• Step 1 of 2
• Has your child experienced any of the following medical disabilities or complications?
  • 
    Cerebral Palsy
  • 
    Erb's Palsy / Shoulder Dystocia
  • 
    Spinal Cord Trauma
  • 
    Brain Damage
  • 
    Other Injury
• Child Date of Birth:
• State:
  ---AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces EuropeArmed Forces Pacific
• Email
  This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Δ

*By submitting, you authorize Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. to send text messages to the numbers provided, including information & offers, possibly using automated technology. Message/data rates apply. Consent is not a condition for acceptance of services.

Also referred to as Choreoathetoid Cerebral Palsy or Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy, Athetoid Cerebral Palsy affects the areas of the brain which allow coordinated and smooth movements.  Athetosis involves an inability to control the movement of muscles, as opposed to spastic cerebral palsy which is associated with an inability to relax the muscles.

Problems associated with athetoid cerebral palsy are usually more likely to become pronounced with periods of strong emotions, such as when the child becomes agitated or upset. Symptoms of Athetoid Cerebral Palsy could include:

• Uncontrolled and involuntary movements
• Difficulty performing coordinated actions, such as reaching and grabbing
• Slurred speech and drooling
• Problems walking
• Abnormal posture

For children with Athetoid Cerebral Palsy, medications may be used to reduce abnormal movements of the muscles.  Some of the drugs, known as Anticholinergic drugs, used for children with Athetoid Cerebral Palsy include:

• Trihexyphenidyl
• Benztropine
• Procyclidine hydrochloride

>>INFORMATION: Cerebral Palsy Treatment Options

OTHER THREE CEREBRAL PALSY TYPES

1. Spastic Cerebral Palsy: Resulting in stiff and weak muscles.  The most common type of cerebral palsy, accounting for approximately 70% of all cases.
2. Ataxic Cerebral Palsy: Shaky movements and unsteady balance.  Least common type, accounting for approximately 10%.
3. Mixed Cerebral Palsy: A combination of types, usually Spastic and Athetoid.

Determining what type of cerebral palsy a child has will assist in determining what sort of symptoms and disabilities the child will face. In addition, it will assist in determining the various cerebral palsy treatment options which may be available for the child.

CONSULTATION WITH AN ATHETOID CEREBRAL PALSY ATTORNEY

In many cases, athetoid cerebral palsy may have been caused by a medical mistake at birth resulting in a brain injury.  If your child has been diagnosed and you suspect that there may have been malpractice during labor or delivery, the athetoid cerebral palsy lawyers can investigate the circumstances surrounding the birth and have medical records reviewed by qualified experts to determine whether the cerebral palsy could have been prevented.

There are no fees or expenses unless a recovery is obtained for the child. However, there are different deadlines in each state which could bar the child’s right to obtain cerebral palsy benefits, so it is important to have any potential claim reviewed as soon as you can.

CONTACT OUR ATHETOID CEREBRAL PALSY ATTORNEYS ABOUT A CASE