Learning that your baby suffers from childhood dysarthria can be a stressful experience. Watching your child struggle to speak because of a serious error on the part of a delivering physician is difficult for a parent. However, you may be able to hold the doctor and the hospital they work for liable for their negligent actions. If your child was diagnosed with childhood dysarthria, you should consult with an experienced Miami birth injury attorney today.
Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA understand how a serious birth injury can affect your child and your family, and we are here for you. A medical malpractice error that leads to childhood dysarthria is unacceptable, and the doctors responsible should be held accountable. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your claim, call us at (305) 694-2676, or contact us online.
Signs and Symptoms of Childhood Dysarthria
Childhood dysarthria is a neurogenic speech disorder that severely affects the motor speech functions of a child. If a baby with dysarthria is not diagnosed and treated appropriately, they could suffer from long-term or even permanent speech impediments. That is why it is important to understand the signs and symptoms of childhood dysarthria.
The primary reason that a child experiences dysarthria is because of weakened muscles in the mouth and respiratory systems. However, there are several other signs and symptoms that accompany a diagnosis of childhood dysarthria.
Many of the symptoms of childhood dysarthria become more apparent when a child is attempting to speak. For example, if your child often exhibits slurred speech when speaking, this could be an indication of dysarthria. Other signs and symptoms of childhood dysarthria include:
- Issues with swallowing and eating
- Decreased range of movement of the child’s tongue, jaw, and lips
- Excessive amounts of saliva buildup and problems controlling drooling
- Extreme difficulty when trying to annunciate words
- Excessively hoarse or high-pitched voice or both
This is not an exhaustive list. It is important to note that many of these symptoms can be misdiagnosed as common issues experienced by young children. Unfortunately, there is no specific test that can be used to properly diagnose childhood dysarthria. However, there are some tests that a physician could run that will make it easier to diagnose dysarthria. Physical examinations, CT scans, MRIs, and a laryngoscopy are just some of the tests that can be used to diagnose childhood dysarthria.
In some cases, a child can be incorrectly diagnosed with apraxia instead of dysarthria. While apraxia is a disorder that affects the motor skills of a person, the overall symptoms of apraxia are less severe than those caused by dysarthria. For example, a child with apraxia may be able to speak clearly at certain times and unable to speak clearly in other scenarios. However, a child suffering from dysarthria will always have issues trying to speak clearly.
A misdiagnosis of apraxia could mean losing valuable time that could have been used to treat your child for dysarthria. To learn more about childhood dysarthria and filing a medical malpractice lawsuit due to your child’s injuries, continue reading and speak with an experienced Miami childhood dysarthria injury attorney.
When to File a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit for Childhood Dysarthria
Childhood dysarthria can be caused by a number of reasons. Before filing a lawsuit, you should be aware of whether your doctor’s actions resulted in your child’s injuries. In many cases, childhood dysarthria is a development of another disorder a child suffers from. For example, a stroke could cause a child to later develop dysarthria. Other common causes of childhood dysarthria include:
- ALS
- Huntington’s Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Nerve Damage
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Tumors
In some cases, a child’s development of dysarthria is a result of a doctor committing medical malpractice that led to a birth injury. If your physician exercised poor judgment and caused your child to be seriously injured, you should consider filing a medical malpractice lawsuit to recover compensation for your child’s injuries.
It is important to consult with a lawyer regarding your potential medical malpractice case as soon as possible because your claim is subject to the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations determines the amount of time that a person has to pursue their lawsuit. In Florida, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice lawsuits is two years from the date of the injury. Failing to file your case within this deadline, could lead to the court barring your claim.
Work with Our Trusted Miami Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today
If your infant developed childhood dysarthria after a birth injury, contact an experienced Miami medical malpractice lawyer today. With a wealth of experience litigating complex medical malpractice lawsuits, injury lawyer Prosper Shaked would be honored to work with you. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your situation, contact the Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA at (305) 694-2676.