Questions?Birth Injury Resources Explained
After receiving a birth injury diagnosis, you may have many questions on how to provide the best care for your child. Fortunately, there are many medical, emotional and financial resources you can access. These resources can provide a comprehensive care plan not just for your child, but for an entire family affected by a birth injury.
Because birth injuries come in many forms, the effectiveness of different resources will vary for each condition and person. By exploring and testing different options, you can learn what works best for your child and their needs.
Typically, more serious conditions like Erb’s palsy and cerebral palsy will have resources specialized toward them. However, there are many resources for all forms of birth injuries as well.
Seeking out help is not a sign of weakness—it means you are willing to provide as much assistance as you can for your child. Accessing different resources can greatly improve your child’s mental and physical well-being. It can also reduce the burden of care for parents and other primary caregivers.
Beth has more than 18 years of specialized experience in labor and delivery. She’s available to hear your story and help you figure out the cause of your child’s injury — and what you can do next.
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Cerebral Palsy Resources
Understanding a cerebral palsy diagnosis and how to manage the condition can present challenges for you and your family. You deserve answers to all your questions. Resources can give them to you. By taking advantage of the many available resources, you can help your child live a healthier and happier life.
Multiple cerebral palsy resources should be accessed to cover not only the medical side of the condition but the social, financial and physical aspects too.
Because the symptoms and seriousness vary with each case of cerebral palsy, it is vital that you seek a proper diagnosis. This can help you narrow down what resources will work best in your child’s case.
Adaptive Equipment
Children with severe physical impairment can get around easier using adaptive equipment like wheelchairs. Adaptive equipment allows children to participate in physical therapy, sports and other activities that would otherwise be challenging for them. These activities help children keep their bodies strong.
Adaptive equipment also can improve their emotional health by boosting their independence and self-esteem. By interacting with their environment in new ways, they gain more confidence in themselves.
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Treatment Facilities
Cerebral palsy-oriented treatment and care (through specialized therapy and facilities) can build a child’s emotional and physical strength. Hospitals, treatment centers and therapists across the country help children with cerebral palsy get the help they need to live healthy and happy lives.
There are also daycare centers and summer camps specifically for children with cerebral palsy. These camps and centers help children socialize and stay as physically active as possible.
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Therapy for Cerebral Palsy
Physical therapy is the key to effective cerebral palsy treatment. Therapy allows the muscles in joints affected by cerebral palsy to be stretched and exercised properly. This prevents them from developing issues like contractures.
Therapy is administered through specially trained therapists. It can be done in a hospital setting, a therapist’s office or even at home. Therapists can also train children to use adaptive equipment and teach parents how to perform some of the routines on their child.
Some types of physical therapy can be started even before a proper diagnosis if you suspect your child has cerebral palsy but they have not yet been diagnosed.
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Special Education
For children with more severe cases of cerebral palsy, special education programs or schools may help them grow intellectually. Children can receive special education in public schools, custom-tailored private schools or through homeschooling plans. These programs or schools allow them to get an education a place that fits their needs.
Your child may also qualify for scholarships or other financial aid, which can help alleviate the cost of some special education plans. Depending on your child’s condition, they may be able to go to college and/or graduate school.
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Support Groups
Support groups allow families and children to share their stories with others, provide advice and bond with other people. Support groups can meet in person, digitally or over the phone. One-on-one support through counseling, therapies and doctor appointments can help solve extreme emotional or physical problems.
Support groups of all kinds can help address issues between children, parents and other caregivers. Don’t rule out sibling involvement either. They may also need support as they learn about their new sibling’s condition and understanding their role in the family.
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Financial Resources
While these resources can vastly improve your child’s quality of life, the cost of care can quickly add up. These costs can be especially hard for low-income families. Fortunately, different forms of financial aid can greatly ease these burdens.
Government-organized nutritional and medical plans can help pay for your child’s doctor visits, treatments, and dietary needs. There are many of these plans at local, state and national levels. Each one has different rules and limits depending on the program.
If you believe your child’s cerebral palsy may have been caused by medical negligence, you can also seek financial compensation through a birth injury lawsuits. These lawsuits can help pay for your child’s medical expenses if a doctor may have been responsible.
These are just a few of the many resources available to help children and families affected by cerebral palsy. By accessing these resources, your child can grow, learn and enjoy their life.
Erb’s Palsy Resources
An Erb’s palsy or brachial plexus palsy diagnosis can call your child’s future into question. You may also wonder what you should do as a parent following a diagnosis. By understanding the condition and the resources available, you can get the help your child needs.
While milder cases of Erb’s palsy may be cured, the symptoms may persist for months or years beforehand. The severity of your child’s condition will determine what resources will give them a better quality of life.
Erb’s Palsy Support Groups
Support groups can help you and your child navigate periods of uncertainty as you seek treatment.
Support groups allow your family to foster relationships with other people going through similar issues. You can learn helpful therapies, treatments and coping strategies from those who have walked in your shoes. This sense of community helps everyone’s emotional well-being.
Groups like the Brachial Plexus Palsy Foundation and United Brachial Plexus Network help teach and strengthen families affected by Erb’s palsy.
These groups offer many different benefits, so some groups may better suit your needs than others.
Additional medical and emotional resources can help you better understand Erb’s palsy, your child’s diagnosis and other actions you can take to help support them.
A doctor can recommend treatments and other therapies after a diagnosis. Your child’s Erb’s palsy may be able to be cured if the right care is provided.
Birth Injury Resources
You may have many questions while you process a birth injury diagnosis. Because birth injuries vary for each child, it can be hard to understand how you can help. Understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatments for your child’s injuries can help you narrow down the next steps to take.
Joining a support group can give your family a safe space to address concerns or questions with others battling the same issues. Individual or group counseling can provide valuable advice about how to manage symptoms, treatments and more. Different forms of therapy can help you and your child understand and treat symptoms or issues caused by a birth injury. If your family is struggling financially due to the cost of care, you can seek financial aid through government programs or a birth injury lawsuit.
These resources benefit more than just your child. They can provide help and comfort to entire families affected by a birth injury diagnosis. By exploring the many resources available, you can find which ones best suit your child’s needs and your own.
Birth injuries, including palsies, present different treatment options depending on your child’s condition. A proper diagnosis from a medical professional can help you determine what resources will best suit your needs moving forward.
