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Having a child should be a magical time in your life. Of course, pregnancy, labor, and the lack of sleep can be stressful and uncomfortable, but overall it should be a journey of joy. Unfortunately, sometimes things happen that make pregnancy, birth, and rearing more difficult than it would have been. And who would have guessed that something as innocent as Tylenol could cause problems?
Tylenol and other acetaminophen products have been used for generations to ease pain and fevers. For a long time, it has been commonly suggested for women who are pregnant to help with different symptoms such as aches and pains. As of 2019, however, researchers at John Hopkins University started to notice a trend. Children who are exposed to high levels of acetaminophen have been shown more likely to develop neurodivergence, such as autism or ADHD. Now, lawyers are helping hold medical professionals and manufacturers responsible.
What is Neurodivergence?
This term is used by the public to describe those whose brains work differently. It can apply to a wide range of people, including autistic people or those struggling with ADHD. In previous years, people with mental illness or developmental disabilities were often described as ‘low’ or ‘high-functioning,’ but through the years, the way we understand neurodivergence has changed, thanks in large part to neurodivergent adults spreading awareness about their experiences.
We now understand, for instance, that autism is a spectrum— how it affects your child may vary from, say, how it affected Dr. Temple Grandin. This speaks nothing to their independence or need for assistance. Some autistic people are non-verbal, whereas others love to hold conversations or recite scripts. Stimming can look different, and sensory issues.
For children with ADHD, you may find they need medication to help control their symptoms, or you may find they can find a coping mechanism to channel their energy.
Regardless of how neurodivergence varies for your child, you will find yourself needing to pay above-average expenses to help them.
Treating and Living With Neurodivergence
Because neurodivergence presents in so many varied ways, treatment will be tailored to your child’s specific needs. This can include standard pediatric care as well as psychiatric care. You may need to invest in occupational, physical, or speech therapy. Your child may need ability assistance aids like letterboards to communicate, a service dog to help with daily tasks, or noise-blocking headphones to help with sensory issues.
Neurodivergence, such as autism, is a learning experience for families, and there will be some trial and error. It’s best to balance between your doctors’ advice and the advice of adults who live with these conditions.
Your child’s future may range from complete independence to assisted living communities. With all of the costs that add up, you can help them get a headstart by holding your prenatal doctors or the manufacturer of the acetaminophen you took accountable.
Helpful organizations have sprung up throughout Chicago to link families to resources and communities living with neurodivergence.
The Link Between Tylenol and Neurodivergence
Through a decades-long study of blood samples from umbilical cords after birth, scientists noticed significant data linking Tylenol and other acetaminophen to neurodivergence. According to their findings, children with high levels of the drug were three times as likely to receive Autism, ADHD, or related diagnosis.
These findings have led to a series of lawsuits from parents hoping to hold care teams and manufacturers responsible. Parents typically use settlements to help care for their children or afford more expensive assistance aids like wheelchairs, electronic speaking devices, and service dogs.
Seeking Justice and Compensation in Chicago
For a Tylenol Autism lawsuit, you need the help of an experienced Chicago lawyer. Be sure to find a lawyer with experience in birth injury cases and a track record of success for families. With your lawyer’s assistance, you can gather the evidence and information needed to hold responsible those who gave you advice that changed your child’s future. The compensation you can receive from such a case can help cover their medications, therapies, assistance aids, and more. More importantly, it holds manufacturers and doctors across the US to the high standard of medical care we expect from them.
When we seek medical care, we place our well-being in the hands of someone else. Due to the high stakes and importance of the job, medical staff are held to a high standard of care. Pharmaceutical companies fall under this standard as well. There are strict requirements to distribute medication, but things still slip past— such as the effect of acetaminophen on fetuses. While a lawsuit may sound like a bit of a hassle for something that boils down to a mistake, holding manufacturers and medical personnel responsible for a high standard of care is important to protect future patients. So if you or a loved one have a child who was diagnosed with autism or ADHD after the birth parent took Tylenol while pregnant, contact a qualified Chicago attorney today.
