Bell’s Palsy Lawyer Houston, TX
Bell’s Palsy Lawyer Houston, TX 
Bell’s palsy is a sudden, partial paralysis or weakness on one side of the face. While it often shows up in adults, infants and children can also suffer from the condition. In most cases, the condition goes away on its own, but there are some children who have paralysis for the rest of their lives. If your baby has developed Bell’s palsy and you suspect that it was negligence on the part of your doctor or other medical professional during delivery, contact the personal injury law firm of John K. Zaid & Associates to speak with a Bell’s palsy lawyer Houston, TX families trust.
How Does Bell’s Palsy Develop in Infants?
It is believed that when an infant develops Bell’s palsy, the nerve that controls the facial muscles becomes inflamed or swollen. This prevents the nerve from sending messages to the facial muscles. Other nerves can also be affected, including those that control saliva, taste, and tears.
Some people assume that an infant who develops Bell’s palsy must have been deprived of oxygen for too long during labor and/or delivery. This is not the case. While the exact cause of the condition is not known, multiple studies have suggested that Bell’s palsy is caused by the herpes virus and that virus is then passed from the mother to the baby. There have also been studies that suggest that the condition is linked somehow to the common cold, flu, and other upper respiratory infections.
Given the research and what is known about the condition, a birth injury lawyer Houston, TX clients recommend knows that Bell’s palsy is preventable as long as doctor’s take the steps to ensure that any maternal infections, including the herpes virus, is not passed to the baby from its mother. Failure to do could mean the infant develops the painful and dangerous condition.
What Are the Symptoms of Bell’s Palsy?
Babies with Bells’ palsy will have a droopiness or signs of paralysis to one side of their face. They may also have some of the following symptoms:
- Difficulty closing the eye on the affected side of the face
- Difficulty smiling
- Drooling
- Headache
- Loss of taste
- One-sided smile
- Pain around the jaw
- Sensitivity to sound and/or pain near the ear
How Is the Condition Diagnosed?
If you notice any of the above symptoms, contact your child’s pediatrician right away. They will likely be able to see the symptoms right away and will conduct diagnostic tests to confirm. The pediatrician will test the baby’s hearing, sight, and sensory perception. Depending on the case, the doctor may also order an MRI or CT scan to determine how the nerves are sitting in the muscles, as well as an Electroencephalogram (EEG) to see if the nerves are functioning properly.
Call Our Office Today
If your baby has developed Bell’s palsy and you suspect malpractice, contact John K. Zaid & Associates today. We will schedule a free and confidential consultation with a Houston, TX bell’s palsy lawyer and discuss what your legal options may be.
Any parent who suspects their child’s birth injuries were the result of negligence should consider starting their search for answers by speaking with a Bell’s palsy lawyer Houston, TX trusts. While injuries at birth are not always predictable or preventable, there are many instances in which negligence was a factor. Because doctors and hospitals are so reluctant to answer any questions that could indicate fault, hiring an experienced attorney is sometimes the best or only way to gain more information.
What is Bell’s Palsy?
Palsy is a common word for disorders characterized by both partial paralysis and involuntary muscle movements. Bell’s palsy is named for Charles Bell, the doctor who first discovered it. This specific type of palsy usually presents as paralysis or weakness of the facial muscles, often causing one side of the face to become stiff or droop. It can also inhibit the ability to close or open one’s eye on the affected side of the face.
It’s important to note that Bell’s palsy can occur at any age and is not always associated with birth injuries. However, when the condition is the result of a birth injury, it is often linked to a long and difficult delivery, sometimes involving the use of forceps.
Because Bell’s palsy can have numerous causes, it can be difficult to show a causal link between medical malpractice and Bell’s palsy. For this and other reasons, it is important to work with a birth injury lawyer Houston, TX knows and trusts.
Other Types of Palsy to Watch for
Bell’s palsy is somewhat rare, but two other conditions – cerebral palsy and Erb’s palsy – are better known. Erb’s palsy is essentially a paralysis/weakness of the arm due to a brachial plexus injury. When it occurs at birth, the injury is often sustained during delivery due to excessive force on the upper arm and shoulder. Many infants can fully recover from Erb’s palsy, but the condition, sadly, is sometimes permanent.
Cerebral palsy impacts a person’s motor movements, balance and posture. The damage occurs in the brain and not in affected muscles. In a certain percentage of cases, victims also suffer from intellectual disabilities. CP is more complex than other types of palsy, and it is actually a group of disorders differentiated by which part of the brain was impacted and the type of resulting movement issues.
When caused by a birth injury, any type of palsy can be debilitating. And because treatment and care can be so expensive, many families naturally want to explore their legal options for appropriate compensation from at-fault physicians and hospitals.
Experienced Texas Injury Attorneys are Here to Help You
The attorneys at John K. Zaid & Associates are passionate about helping birth injury victims and their families secure the compensation they need to live without the constant burden of medical bills and other financial worries. We also fight to make sure that other families don’t need to suffer the same heartbreaking injuries.
To tell your story and get case-specific feedback about your legal options, contact a respected Houston, TX Bell’s palsy lawyer at our firm today.
