Coordination and Movement Control Problems with Ataxic Cerebral Palsy

Some of the most devastating problems associated with ataxic cerebral palsy are the multiple types of movement and coordination disabilities that may arise with this disorder. While other forms of cerebral palsy often include more diverse disabilities, ataxic cerebral palsy mainly affects a child’s ability to control his or her movements. These disabilities can affect both fine motor skills and larger movements, such as those needed to walk with a normal gait.

Ataxic Cerebral Palsy’s Common Coordination Disabilities

Because of how ataxic cerebral palsy specifically affects the cerebellum, where so many of the brain’s crucial coordination and movement functions are located, coordination and muscle control are typically most severely affected by this type of cerebral palsy. The following coordination and motion-specific concerns can arise in cases of ataxic cerebral palsy:

  • Intention tremors, which can make fine motor movements impossible
  • An unusually widened gait when walking
  • Balance problems due to hypotonia, leading to a lack of confident movement while walking
  • Dysdiadochokinesia, or the inability to perform quickly alternating movements, potentially affecting both fine motor skills and speech

Depending on the type and scope of these disabilities, there may be treatment or management options available. However, in many cases, these treatments are expensive and at best only provide a slight improvement in the child’s overall quality of life.

Contact Us

If your child has developed ataxic cerebral palsy because of the negligent care of a doctor or nurse before, during, or after birth, there may be legal options available to pursue financial compensation for those medical mistakes. To learn more about your legal rights in pursuing a birth injury lawsuit, contact a lawyer from the Driscoll Firm by calling (800) 900-7704 today.

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