Developmental Delays in Children

Birth Complications Leading to Development Problems

During the first three years of a child's life, they tend to move through many significant milestones at a rapid pace. From crawling to standing to walking, children begin to exercise their gross motor skills among others during this phase in life. While every child is unique and advances through these stages at a different pace, it is important to recognize when a child is not meeting the appropriate milestones.

When children experience developmental delays, they tend to move through these stages and milestones at a far slower pace than other children their age. In addition to a delay in gross motor skills, developmental delays can also extend to the following areas:

• Language skills – a child's ability to use gestures, speak, communicate and understand language.
• Social skills – a child's ability to feel empathy and sympathy, interact with others and have relationships.
• Fine motor skills – a child's ability to write, grasp small objects, fasten clothing, and other activities involving strength, fine motor control and dexterity.
• Cognitive skills – ability to learn, problem-solve, understand, analyze, remember, and determine action.

For more information on how to determine whether or not your child is meeting his or her milestones, visit these sites for helpful checklists: American Academy of Pediatrics (birth to young adult) and WebMd (birth to age five).

Developmental Delays & Medical Malpractice

What causes developmental delays in a child? Some types of developmental delays are genetic and are passed down through conditions such as Down syndrome and cystic fibrosis. While these conditions cannot be the result of medical negligence or malpractice, doctors and medical professionals do have a responsibility to identify these conditions early on in the pregnancy. A failure to inform the mother of genetic abnormalities in a fetus may result in a wrongful birth lawsuit

The other main causes of developmental delays are problems during pregnancy, labor or delivery. For example, a prolonged lack of blood and oxygen in the brain of a baby during labor or delivery can kill brain cells. This causes development delays and is why doctors must be on the alert when monitoring the condition of the baby during the birth delivery process. Birth injuries are not always manifested immediately, and sometimes they may not appear until a much later time.

Contact an Atlanta Medical Malpractice Lawyer for Help

If you suspect that your child's developmental delays may have been caused by the negligence of a doctor or hospital at the time of birth or delivery, do not hesitate to call an Atlanta medical malpractice attorney at The Tolson Firm, LLC. You likely have answers about your rights and how to pursue justice, and our legal professionals are ready to help you and provide the honest legal advice that you need. We have handled countless malpractice cases on the behalf of patients and parents throughout Atlanta, and we know what it takes to be successful with a claim.

When your child is suffering from developmental delays caused by a medical professional's negligence, you may be entitled to money that can pay for your child's therapies, special education, and continuing medical care. These costs can be overwhelming for any family, and our firm is here to help you. We will devote as much time and energy as it takes to be successful in filing a claim against the doctor, hospital or healthcare professional. Call today to schedule your consultation with a legal professional who has been successful in multiple multi-million dollar cases involving medical malpractice.