Every parent expects their child to move, grow, and thrive. When a child is diagnosed with athetoid cerebral palsy (CP), daily life changes, and so does the future. Athetoid CP is a neurological condition caused by damage to the developing brain, disrupting the nerve signals that control movement. The result is a lifetime of physical challenges that can affect how a child walks, speaks, eats, and interacts with the world around them.

For many families, that damage was preventable. If you believe a medical error during pregnancy or delivery may have caused your child’s condition, reach out to the birth injury attorneys at Beam Legal Team. We investigate what went wrong, hold negligent medical providers accountable, and fight to secure the financial compensation your family needs to support your child’s care, stability, and future.

Signs and Symptoms of Athetoid Cerebral Palsy

Children with athetoid cerebral palsy, also known as dyskinetic cerebral palsy, may experience a range of physical symptoms that vary in severity from child to child. These include:

  • Slow, involuntary movements in the limbs
  • Uncontrolled movements in the face and other parts of the body
  • Fluctuating muscle tone
  • Difficulty walking or sitting upright
  • Difficulty holding objects, brushing hair, or eating without assistance
  • Unclear or slurred speech (dysarthria)
  • Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
  • Drooling, grimacing, or tongue thrusting
  • Developmental delays in infants such as difficulty crawling, sitting up, or reaching for toys
  • Seizure disorders
  • Hearing or vision impairment
  • Cognitive or learning difficulties

In many cases, doctors diagnose children with athetoid cerebral palsy within 18 months of birth, though some diagnoses come later as symptoms become more apparent.

Subtypes of Athetoid Cerebral Palsy

There are several subtypes of athetoid cerebral palsy, each describing a distinct pattern of movement. Many children experience a combination of more than one.

They include:

  • Athetosis: Slow, writhing movements, particularly in the fingers, hands, and face. This is the defining movement pattern of athetoid CP and the one most commonly associated with the condition.
  • Dystonia: Involuntary muscle contractions that cause repetitive twisting movements and abnormal postures. Dystonia can affect a single part of the body or multiple areas simultaneously.
  • Chorea: Sudden, irregular, jerky movements that appear random and unpredictable. Unlike athetosis, choreic movements tend to be abrupt rather than slow and flowing.
  • Choreoathetosis: A combination of chorea and athetosis, where a child experiences both the abrupt jerky movements of chorea and the slower writhing movements of athetosis.
  • Dyskinesia: A broader term referring to general involuntary, uncontrolled movements. Athetoid CP is itself a form of dyskinetic cerebral palsy.
  • Rigidity: Abnormally high muscle tone throughout the body, causing stiffness and resistance to movement. This occurs when hypertonia is sustained rather than fluctuating.

How Medical Malpractice Can Cause Athetoid Cerebral Palsy

In many cases, athetoid cerebral palsy is not simply the result of an unavoidable complication. It can stem from preventable medical errors before, during, or shortly after birth. When healthcare providers fail to meet the accepted standard of care, the risk of serious brain injury increases significantly.

  • Oxygen Deprivation: When a baby’s brain is deprived of oxygen, even for a short period, it can lead to permanent damage, particularly in areas that control movement. This is often diagnosed as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).
  • Delayed C-Section: When complications arise during labor, such as prolonged distress or obstructed delivery, a timely cesarean section can prevent injury. Delays in making this decision can result in prolonged oxygen deprivation and irreversible harm.
  • Improper Fetal Monitoring: Doctors and nurses are responsible for accurately interpreting fetal heart rate patterns and other warning signs during labor. Misreading or ignoring these indicators can allow dangerous conditions to go unaddressed, increasing the likelihood of brain injury.
  • Birth Trauma: The misuse of delivery tools like forceps or vacuum extractors, or the application of excessive force during delivery, can cause physical injury to the baby’s head or neck. These injuries may disrupt blood flow or directly damage delicate brain structures involved in motor control.
  • Kernicterus: A severe form of brain damage resulting from untreated newborn jaundice. When bilirubin levels rise too high and are not addressed promptly, they can accumulate in the brain and damage areas responsible for movement, leading to athetoid CP.

Treatment and Management Options for Athetoid Cerebral Palsy

There is no cure for athetoid cerebral palsy, but treatment can meaningfully improve a child’s quality of life. Most children benefit from a combination of therapies tailored to their specific needs, many of which continue in some form throughout their lives.

  • Physical Therapy: Physical therapy is typically one of the first and most consistent forms of treatment for children with athetoid CP. It helps strengthen muscles, improve coordination, and build the mobility needed for daily movement.
  • Occupational Therapy: Where physical therapy focuses on movement, occupational therapy focuses on independence. A therapist works with the child on everyday tasks such as eating, dressing, writing, and gripping objects, developing strategies and adaptations that make daily life more manageable at home, in school, and eventually in the workplace.
  • Speech Therapy: Because athetoid CP can affect the muscles of the face, mouth, and throat, speech therapy plays an important role in treatment. Beyond improving communication, it also addresses swallowing difficulties. For children who cannot develop functional speech, therapists can introduce alternative communication strategies that allow the child to express themselves effectively.
  • Medications: Medications may be prescribed to help manage specific symptoms such as involuntary movements, fluctuating muscle tone, or seizures. They are typically used alongside therapy rather than as a standalone treatment, and the specific medications used depend on the child’s individual needs.
  • Assistive Devices: Many children with athetoid CP benefit from assistive devices that support mobility and daily function. Wheelchairs, walkers, braces, and orthotics can help with posture and movement, while communication devices ranging from simple picture boards to sophisticated speech-generating technology can be transformative for children whose speech is significantly affected.
  • Surgical Interventions: In some cases, surgery may be considered to address specific complications. Deep brain stimulation is an emerging option that uses electrical pulses to help regulate abnormal brain activity and has shown promising results in reducing involuntary movements in some patients.

What Causes Athetoid Cerebral Palsy?

Brain damage causes cerebral palsy, and the location and extent of this damage determines the type of cerebral palsy. In many cases, athetoid cerebral palsy occurs when the basal ganglia or cerebellum in the brain sustains hypoxic or anoxic damage during birth or shortly after (i.e., due to a lack of oxygen). Brain damage during labor and delivery may be the result of a doctor’s or hospital’s negligence, such as failure to detect a lack of oxygen and to deliver the baby in time by cesarean section.

When to Speak With a Birth Injury Attorney

If your child has been diagnosed with athetoid cerebral palsy and something about the pregnancy, labor, or delivery felt wrong, speaking with a birth injury attorney is an important first step, even if you’re not yet sure whether negligence was involved. An experienced attorney can review your child’s medical records, consult with medical experts, and help determine whether the standard of care was met.

Timing also matters. Every state has a legal deadline for filing a birth injury claim, and missing that window may mean losing the right to pursue compensation. The sooner a family seeks legal advice, the better positioned they are to preserve evidence and build a strong case.

Why Choose Beam Legal Team

When your child’s future is at stake, experience and focus matter. At Beam Legal Team, we have represented families affected by birth injuries since 1983, combining decades of legal experience with a deep understanding of medical malpractice.

We recognize the human side of every case. Behind each claim is a child and a family facing lifelong challenges. From your first consultation through resolution, we keep you informed and advocate for you every step of the way.

Most cases follow a clear process that includes:

  • Case evaluation
  • Evidence collection
  • Filing the claim
  • Resolution through settlement or trial

If you believe a medical error caused your child’s athetoid cerebral palsy, contact Beam Legal Team today for a free consultation. You pay no attorney’s fees unless we win your case.

To start your case, speak with a member of our legal team today.