How not to speak to people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of neurological disorders affecting motor and developmental skills. It is not a disease or sickness.
CP is usually diagnosed anywhere between 18 months and five years of age.
Ataxic cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the balance center of the brain, the cerebellum. This in turn results in issues with motor control and movement.
Caused by basal ganglia and/or cerebellum damage, symptoms of dyskinetic cerebral palsy include fluctuating muscle tone and involuntary movements. Athetoid, choreoathetoid, and dystonic cerebral palsy are all forms of dyskinetic CP.
The most common type of CP, spastic cerebral palsy affects about 80% of people with CP. It's caused by damage to the motor cortex or pyramidal tracts and characterized by tight muscles and jerking movements.
Mixed cerebral palsy is a result of multiple areas of brain damage. It can cause patients to have more than one type of CP. The most common type of mixed CP is spastic-dyskinetic CP.
A rare type, hypotonic cerebral palsy is also caused by cerebellum damage. The condition is characterized by floppy muscles, excess flexibility, and poor mobility.
Symptoms of CP can vary greatly from person to person, as can the severity of the condition. Furthermore, signs are not usually obvious just after a baby is born.
Fidgety, jerky, or clumsy movements, and difficulty bringing hands to the mouth, serve as additional indicators that something is amiss.
Lack of coordination and balance or problems with movement on one side of the body are associated with the onset of CP.
Besides physical indicators, possible neurological symptoms include sensory impairments, for example visual and/or hearing problems.
And difficulty with walking, such as a crouched or scissors-like gait, or doing so on tiptoe, represent more CP indicators.
CP also manifests in behavioral problems, and difficulties with speech and language, or dysarthria.
Cerebral palsy can occur if a baby's brain does not develop normally while they're in the womb, or is damaged during or soon after birth.
An obvious red flag, however, are delays in reaching development milestones—for example, not sitting by eight months or not walking by 18 months.
Other symptoms in newborns include seeming too stiff or too floppy, and a lagging head when they are picked up while lying on their back. Another symptom to look out for in a baby younger than six months of age is if he/she reaches out with only one hand while keeping the other fisted.
Speech therapy naturally helps with speech and communication, but also with swallowing difficulties.
There is no cure for CP, but treatment can improve the lives of those who have the condition. Treatment plans can be designed to address your child's specific needs.
Occupational therapy works where a healthcare professional identifies problems that you or your child have carrying out everyday tasks, and suggests ways to make these easier.
Routine doctor visits throughout pregnancy are crucial to catching any complications and cerebral palsy risk factors. Expectant mothers can reduce the risks by avoiding things such as alcohol and tobacco, and exposure to infections or viruses known to impact fetal health.
CP is caused by a problem with the brain that develops before, during, or after birth. It is the most common motor disability in childhood.
Medication can be used to treat some symptoms of cerebral palsy, and corrective surgery may be recommended for children with severe mobility and muscle issues.
While it can be difficult to predict what the outlook will be for you or your child, generally speaking most youngsters with CP live into adult life.
In fact, many kids with CP go on to enjoy a mainstream education, though some may have special educational needs.
No matter what the cause, CP occurs early in life. You can't develop this condition as an adult.
Those who do survive CP into adulthood still face challenges and living with the condition can lead to problems such as depression in some people.
If you or your child have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, the good news is that there is plenty of help and support out there, early intervention and school-aged services, for example, designed to educate families about the condition.
Getting in touch with online communities and participating in CP awareness programs can also help lessen the impact of a positive diagnosis.
See also: Celebrities open up about raising children with disabilities
This abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain affects a person's ability to control his or her muscles. There are four main types of cerebral palsy.
The inability to roll over in either direction and not being able to bring hands together are other possible signs of CP.
Crawling in a lopsided manner, shuffling along the floor on buttocks, or on the knees are also signs to look out for.
These causes include bleeding in the baby's brain or reduced blood and oxygen supply to their brain. An infection caught by the mother during pregnancy is another possible cause. And the brain temporarily not getting enough oxygen (asphyxiation) during a difficult birth is also a reason CP can develop. Meningitis and serious head injury have also been blamed for these movement disorders.
Physiotherapy is often recommended. Those afflicted with CP benefit enormously from techniques such as exercise and stretching to help maintain physical ability. These in turn help to address movement problems.
Random, uncontrolled movements and exaggerated reflexes typify other physical symptoms of CP, as do difficulties in eating and swallowing.
Cerebral palsy (CP) refers to a group of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood. The most common of all childhood disabilities, CP is a lifelong condition that affects movement and co-ordination. It's estimated that in the United States alone, about 764,000 children and adults currently have cerebral palsy. In many cases of CP, the exact cause is not clear. What is known, however, is that symptoms vary from person to person, as does the severity of the condition. But how do you recognize the signs of CP, and what treatments are available?
Click through and lean more about this debilitating ailment.
Cerebral palsy: The most common motor disability in children
Understanding this neurological disorder and its impact
HEALTH Disorders
Cerebral palsy (CP) refers to a group of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood. The most common of all childhood disabilities, CP is a lifelong condition that affects movement and co-ordination. It's estimated that in the United States alone, about 764,000 children and adults currently have cerebral palsy. In many cases of CP, the exact cause is not clear. What is known, however, is that symptoms vary from person to person, as does the severity of the condition. But how do you recognize the signs of CP, and what treatments are available?
Click through and lean more about this debilitating ailment.