Birth injuries can greatly affect a child’s brain development and lead to learning, memory and attention difficulties. Because cognitive development determines how children think, reason and learn, brain damage at birth can permanently affect these essential skills.
Key areas of brain growth that are affected
To better understand these challenges, consider how brain injuries directly impact core areas of development. Some of the cognitive functions commonly affected include:
- Planning and control: Trouble with organizing things, staying focused or stopping oneself from acting without thinking
- Talking and listening: Taking longer to learn how to speak or having a hard time following simple directions
- Thinking speed: Needing more time to finish work or understand new ideas
- Focus: Not being able to pay attention for very long or having ADHD
- Seeing and space: Struggling to tell how far away things are or how to solve puzzles
Medical malpractice may occur when health providers fail to monitor fetal distress, delay an emergency C-section or mismanage delivery tools, leading to a preventable birth injury. In Oregon, personal injury claims generally carry a two-year statute of limitations, though special extension rules apply to minors up to specific legal limits.
Protect your child’s future
When medical mistakes cause a birth injury, acting quickly protects your rights and meets legal deadlines. Proving these claims involves complex evidence, so talking to an experienced birth injury attorney early helps you secure your rights and fight for the financial support your child needs.