Wheelchairs for Kids with Birth Disorders

Traditional Folding Wheelchair

The biggest advantage of a traditional folding wheelchair comes from the fact that you can fold them up as needed, allowing for the maximum level of portability. For example, you can fold it up to fit inside a car when your child needs to go somewhere. In addition, you can choose the leg rests and the headrest.

Choosing a Wheelchair

When you go to choose a wheelchair for a child with a birth injury, there are a few questions that you should ask because doing so can direct your search. First, consider how long your child will sit in their chair each day. If your child will sit in it for longer, you will want a chair that will have additional comfort. You will also want to ask yourself if your child will propel themselves or if they will use an attendant-operated chair. A chair that is motorized will work better if your child has cerebral palsy and has trouble using their arms or hands. Motorized wheelchairs will make it easier so that they can steer or direct it themselves. When you speak with your doctor, they will most likely consider all of these factors before providing a recommendation.

Depends on the Severity

Based on information from the National Institute of Health, 41 percent of children who have CP will need help walking. An estimated 31 percent use a wheelchair. But, some cases could use leg braces to instead.

The Severity of CP

There are different levels of severity and types of CP. When it comes to cerebral pasly, the types include:

  • Spastic
  • Mixed
  • Ataxic
  • Athetoid

Spastic CP is the most common, with 70 to 80 percent of cases falling under this classification. Spastic CP occurs due to damage to the motor cortex of the brain.

Having a wheelchair can go a long way toward helping your child. In many cases, it will be entirely necessary because they can’t mobilize themselves without one. You should speak to your doctor before buying one because they can make a recommendation that will provide more insight. After a child receives a diagnosis for this injury, a doctor will look at movement problems and the injury itself to see how they can best help the child. If your child was born with cerebral palsy, it may be due to medical negligence. Discuss your options for filing a lawsuit and hold those at fault responsible.