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Birth Defect Attorneys: Problems with Hearing

The problems surrounding Topamax have been widely publicized in the recent months. The epilepsy and migraine headache medication has been linked to birth defects, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, when taken by women during pregnancy. Aside from the oral malformation, young babies may also experience a number of other significant health problems in their early years. One of the paramount dangers iS potential hearing problems or total hearing loss in young children. Birth defect attorneys stress the importance of seeking medical assistance as soon as possible.

Hearing Impairment Possible in Children with Cleft Lip and Palate

After a child is born with a cleft lip or cleft palate, physicians often seek to limit the potential threat to the hearing and speech abilities of the baby. Birth defect attorneys say that a tympanostomy tube is usually inserted into the child’s eardrum. This tube is readily used to aerate the middle of the baby’s ear. It is the hope of medical physicians that this will allow the hearing ability of the young child to flourish. Although there are different means by which to help with hearing ability, hearing impairment is very prevalent in children with a cleft palate. This is because the eustachian tubes often can not open properly due to issues with the tensor muscle fibers. When these muscle fibers lack an anchor to open the eustachian tubes, the secretion of fluid is possible. As air in the middle ear begins to be absorbed by the mucous membrane, the negative pressure is unable to be compensated for. The result is secretion of fluid in the middle ear space from the mucous membrane. This middle ear effusion could lead to hearing loss in these young babies. Birth defect attorneys say that medical treatment and consultations at an early age will help the child counteract potentially harmful symptoms later in life.

Birth Defect Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your child was born with a birth defect, such as cleft lip or cleft palate, that you believe is attributable to your use of Topamax during pregnancy, you probably have some questions for a birth defect attorney. Please contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation at 856-833-0600 in New Jersey, or 215-567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Birth Defect Attorneys – Topamax Could be a Leading Cause of Cleft Lip

Topamax is a popular prescription drug, used to help prevent epileptic seizures and migraine headaches. Birth defect attorneys have recently discovered, via an issued warning from the FDA, that Topamax use during pregnancy may cause oral malformations, such as a cleft lip or cleft palate, in newborn children. The formation of a cleft lip forces a young child to undergo surgery (or surgeries) within the first three months of birth in order to repair the cleft or clefts. Cleft lip can have many damaging consequences on both the baby and the mother, which is why it’s essential to fix the problem as soon as possible. Birth defect attorneys recommend that mother’s seek medical assistance as soon as possible and avoid the use of Topamax during pregnancy.

Post Childbirth Surgery

The recommended age for cleft lip or cleft palate correction surgery is generally ten weeks following birth. Two surgeons, Wilhelmmesen and Musgrave, coined the “rule of ten”, calling for children suffering from cleft lip to be at least ten weeks old, weigh ten pounds, and have at least 10g hemoglobin before an operation.

Birth defect attorneys have learned that children suffering from a bilateral cleft may need to undergo two surgeries to close each side separately. Also, children who have an incomplete cleft lip may be required to have the same exact procedure as those with a complete cleft. Although mothers may dread the thought of subjecting their baby to surgery at such a young age, it is usually the only logical route to take. Those babies who have the surgery within 2-3 months following birth are likely to fully recover and have a minimally noticeable scar. Birth defect attorneys and medical professionals alike stress the importance of mothers meeting with both medical experts and family members to choose a plan that works best for them and their child. Although potentially scary and nerve-racking, birth defects, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, can be easily treated, allowing kids to lead perfectly normal and happy lives.

Birth Defect Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your child was born with a cleft lip or cleft palate birth defect, and you believe it is attributable to your use of Topamax during pregnancy, you probably have some questions for a birth defects attorney. Please contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation at 856-833-0600 in New Jersey, or 215-567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Birth Defect Attorneys – Cleft Lip Leads to Dental Problems

We know that young children who suffer from cleft lip and cleft palate may face dental problems down the road. In particular, children who suffer from birth defects may be at risk for a significantly higher number of cavities due to their cleft lip or cleft palate. Children may also have extra, missing, malformed, or displaced teeth due to this. Birth defect attorneys advise that children who have teeth that require additional attention should seek dental and orthodontic consultations and treatment as soon as possible. Cleft lip and cleft palate can have dramatic ramifications on many parts of a young child’s life and it is important to address oral issues, including those dealing with teeth, as soon as possible.

Alveolar Ridge Defect may Accompany Cleft Palate

new jersey philadelphia Birth Defect Attorneys cleft lip dental problems Many young children who suffer from a cleft palate may also have a alveolar ridge defect. The alveolus is the upper gum where the teeth are located. Defects in the alveous are not uncommon in young children who suffer from birth defects such as cleft palate. These defects in the upper gum may first displace or rotate the permanent teeth that have grown in. Secondly, in young children, these defects may prevent the adult or permanent teeth from descending and appearing. Finally, we say that this sort of defect may also prevent the alveolar ridge from properly forming. These can develop into serious problems for children and parents should seek dental consultation as soon as possible. Fortunately, we know that these problems are fairly common and can generally be fixed through some form of oral surgery. Following surgery, the young child will be able to show off a beautiful smile without any displacement or rotation of the teeth.

Birth Defect Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your child was born with a birth defect, such as cleft lip or cleft palate, that you believe is attributable to your use of Topamax during pregnancy, it is possible that you have some questions for our professionals. Please contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Birth Defects Attorneys: Topamax Dangerous for Pregnant Women

In recent years, Topamax has been among industry leaders in treating epilepsy and migraine headaches. Although extremely popular, recent research has shown that this drug may cause birth defects, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, in young babies. Birth defects attorneys strongly urge women to avoid the use of Topamax during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, in an attempt to limit the risk of birth injuries.

Food and Drug Administration Acknowledges the Serious Dangers

In early March 2011, the FDA issued an alert regarding the dangerous risks of certain oral defects that may derive from the use of Topamax during pregnancy. Additional warning labels have also been added to the Topamax bottle. The Food and Drug Administration has also upgraded Topamax to a Class D pregnancy drug. The significance of this change is that as a Class D drug, Topamax can “potentially present significant and unnecessary harm to a human fetus“. Birth defects lawyers believe that cleft lip and cleft palate occur more frequently when a fetus is exposed to Topamax during gestation.

The Food and Drug Administration has said that Topamax should never be prescribed for women who are pregnant unless it is a life or death situation. Unless the situation is truly life threatening, or similar drugs have been deemed completely ineffective, women should avoid the use of Topamax. These findings came from numerous studies performed by the North American Anti-epileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry. Although Topamax has been popular and an industry leader for effectiveness, birth defect lawyers say pregnant women need to consider the vast risks to their baby before consuming the prescription drug.

Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your child was born with an oral malformation that you believe can be attributed to your use of Topamax during pregnancy, it is possible that you would like to speak with a birth defect lawyer. Please contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Topamax & Birth Defects: The Main Formations of Cleft Lip

Birth defects can occur following the birth of any child but certain activities and medications may lead to an increased risk. Topamax, a popular drug used in the treatment of migraines and epilepsy, has been shown to increase the risk of birth defects when taken by mothers during pregnancy. When Topamax is used while a woman is pregnant, research has shown that cleft lip and cleft palate are an increasingly likely result, which has led the Food and Drug Administration to upgrade their warning level.

Main Formations of Cleft Lip

new jersey philadelphia Birth Defects attorneys main formations cleft lip When a cleft does not affect the mouth’s palate structure it is referred to as cleft lip. Cleft lips can occur on one or both sides of the lip which are generally referred to as unilateral or bilateral clefts. The first category of cleft lip is known as an incomplete cleft. An incomplete, or partial, cleft lip occurs at the top of the lip. The cleft appears as a small gap or indentation that does not reach the nose.

The second major category of cleft lip is known as a complete cleft. When the cleft begins at the top of the lip and continues up into the nose it is referred to as a complete cleft lip. The complete cleft lip is generally more pronounced and a more serious version of cleft lip. Cleft lip occurs with there is a failure of the maxillary and medial nasal processes to fuse.

Birth Defects Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your child was recently born with a birth defect, such as cleft lip or cleft palate, and you believe that it may be attributed to your use of Topamax during pregnancy, it is possible that you have questions. Please contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Birth Injury Lawyers – Cleft Lip: Dealing with Defects

Many people turn to the popular pharmaceutical drug Topamax to deal with severe migraine headaches. Although the drug has performed prominently in the industry, it may not be the proper choice for pregnant mothers. Recent reports have shown that Topamax may cause birth defects, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, when it is taken by women during pregnancy. Women should thoroughly investigate all medications, as well as warning labels, before determining the proper migraine relief that suits their needs.

Cleft Lip: Concerns are Normal

The birth of a child is one of the most exciting and proud moments of a mother’s life. Birth defects, such as cleft lip or cleft palate, should not spoil the moment, as these issues can be easily corrected with surgery. It is completely normal for mothers with babies born with a cleft lip to experience concerns and feelings of denial, guilt, anger, and depression.

Mothers should not become over consumed with some of these normal feelings and should seek helpful advice from their child’s physician or counselors. Support groups may also be helpful for new mothers because they allow for interaction with similarly situated women who have babies with similar birth defects. Dealing with cleft lip in young babies may require extra patience, time, and energy, but mothers should not overextend themselves because these defects can be treated. It is normal to wonder how family, friends, and other children will react to the appearance of your child, but the central focus for all women should be simply to build the strongest possible bond with their young child. In time, everything else will work itself out.

Cleft Lip Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your child was recently born with cleft lip or cleft palate and you believe this birth defect may be attributable to your use of Topamax, it is likely that you have some questions. Please contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation at 856-833-0600 in New Jersey, or 215-567-2380 in Philadelphia.