Infant Developmental Abnormalities as a Birth Disorder Symptom

Walking with a Dragged Leg

Your child begins to take his or her first steps, but you notice the legs dragging. What could this mean? Perhaps your baby moved from crawling to walking, but you’re concerned because of how one leg drags. Unfortunately, this may be one of the many signs that your child has cerebral palsy. However, it can also be attributed to other things such as:

  • Foot problems
  • Juvenile arthritis
  • Neuropathy
  • Different lengths of the legs
  • Myositis
  • injury of the hip

Usually, if your child walks with a dragged leg, your doctor will try to determine the reason why. Your doctor will rule out the worst possible causes first, and likely perform tests to evaluate the legs, nervous system, and bones.

Complete Loss of Bodily Movement

One developmental disability that is important to be aware of is ataxia, which is characterized by the loss of control or coordination of movement. There are a couple of conditions that ataxia may be a sign of.  One possibility is Erb’s palsy, which can occur as a result of a healthcare professional picking up your baby by their arms. This condition can cause damage to the brachial plexus. Fortunately, this condition can often be treated with physical therapy. In more severe cases, surgery may be indicated.

The Neck Pulls Involuntarily

When you see your infant pull their neck back involuntarily, this could be due to several issues that the doctor may have to test for. For example, if you notice this happening during breastfeeding, it could indicate that your child has gastrointestinal influx. This is also known as acid reflux. Your child could feel that the milk is too hot for them. However, you have to rule out some of the more dangerous causes that this could be a sign of, like cerebral palsy. Your doctor could treat this through muscle-relaxing medications that are intended to deal with baby developmental abnormalities.

If your child suffered nerve damage, it could be due to a condition known as Erb’s Palsy. They could have a harder time communicating because this condition causes damage to the nerves. In some cases, the child’s arms can’t move at all. On the other hand, you could see exaggerated reflexes instead. When this happens, the child overcompensates their movements through exaggeration. If they have this exaggeration in the legs or lower part of their body, it could indicate cerebral palsy. If your infant suffered from developmental abnormalities from a birth injury, you can hold those responsible by filing a lawsuit. Discuss your case with a professional today.