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Cerebral Palsy: What is it?

By HERWriter
 
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The term “cerebral palsy” (CP) is a blanket term that refers to any occurrence of loss or impairment of motor function. Cerebral palsy affects muscle tone, movement, fine and gross motor skills, reflex, posture and balance. It can also affect vision, hearing and speech problems, as well as learning disabilities.

It “is usually caused by brain damage that occurs before or during a child’s birth, or during the first 3 to 5 years of a child’s life” (Kidshealth.org) and it is one of the most common congenital disorders of childhood. It is estimated that 500,000 American children under the age of 18 have cerebral palsy. (Cerebralpalsy.org)

Let’s look at a few more statistics that show us the effect cerebral palsy is having on our society:

• About two to three children out of every 1,000 have cerebral palsy

• About 10,000 babies born each year will develop cerebral palsy

• Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type of CP accounting for 61-76.9 percent of all cerebral palsy cases.

Most people with cerebral palsy can live long, happy, productive lives. Some can do so with minimal assistive technologies and therapies. But cerebral palsy does not progress. The symptoms or condition will not worsen over time.

Types, Symptoms and Causes of Cerebral Palsy

There are three main types of cerebral palsy:

1) Spastic
2) Non-spastic
3) Mixed

Spastic Cerebral Palsy - muscles continually contract so limbs are stiff and rigid. Reflexes can be exaggerated and movements are jerky.

Arms and legs can be affected as well as the tongue, mouth and pharynx, resulting in impaired speech, eating, breathing and swallowing. Conditions such as hip dislocation, scoliosis and other limb deformities are often associated with cerebral palsy and the stress of the spasticity.

Non-Spastic - characterized by decreased and/or fluctuating muscle tone with each form defined by the specific impairment(s). The most common characteristic is involuntary movement, which can be slow or fast, but can be repetitive and/or rhythmic. These movements can worsen with stress, but tend to diminish when resting.

Mixed - where a child’s impairments fall under both categories.

Overall, depending on the kind of cerebral palsy symptoms may include (MayoClinic.com):

• Variations in muscle tone – either too stiff or too floppy

• Stiff muscles and exaggerated reflexes (spasticity)

• Stiff muscles with normal reflexes (rigidity)

• Lack of muscle coordination (ataxia)

• Tremors or involuntary movements

• Slow, writing movements (athetosis)

• Favoring one side of the body, reaching with only one hand or dragging a leg

• Difficulty walking, walking on toes, crouched over, or with a scissors-like gait

• Excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing

• Difficulty with fine motor skills (eg: picking up a spoon)

Causes, Risk Factors and Treatments

Cerebral palsy in all its forms is a result of damage to the parts of the brain that control mobility either before, during or after birth. Brain damage can happen if “genetic and environmental factors disturb brain cell migration ... during brain development” (Cerebralpalsy.org), when the protective covering over nerve cells in the brain is inadequate, if blood vessels or the brain is starved of oxygen during birth, or if trauma, infections, or asphyxia damage connections in the brain.

There are a number of factors that carry with them increased risk of cerebral palsy:

• German measles (rubella)
• Chicken Pox
• Cytomegalovirus (if first experience during pregnancy)
• Toxoplasmosis (a parasitic infection)
• Syphilis
• Exposure to toxins, such as methyl mercury
• Thyroid, mental retardation or seizure disorders
• Bacterial Meningitis
• Viral Encephalitis
• Severe or untreated jaundice
• Premature birth
• Low birth weight
• Breech births (feet first)
• Multiple births

There is no cure for cerebral palsy. Treatment focuses on helping families cope with the disabilities and needs for their children to lead as normal a life as possible. Depending on the type and severity of cerebral palsy treatment may involve:

• Medications to alleviate muscle tightness, pain and spasticity-related complications

• Physical, occupational or speech therapies

• Surgery “to lessen muscle tightness or correct bone abnormalities caused by spasticity” (MayoClinic.com)

• Coordination between various medical specialists possibly including: pediatricians, physiatrists, pediatric neurologists, orthopedists, occupational therapists, developmental therapists, mental health provider, social worker, special education teacher.

For more information on cerebral palsy, including more on causes, treatments and research, visit one of the below sources.

Sources:

“What is Cerebral Palsy”, “Cause of Cerebral Palsy”, “Prevalence and Incidence of Cerebral Palsy”, “Diagnosis of and Tests for Cerebral Palsy”, “Life Expectancy”. Cerebralpalsy.org. Web. Nov 3, 2011. http://cerebralpalsy.org/about-cerebral-palsy

Cerebral Palsy. Kidshealth.org. Web. Nov 3, 2011. http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/cerebral_palsy.html

Cerebral Palsy. MayoClinic.com. Web. Nov 3, 2011. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cerebral-palsy/DS00302/DSECTION=symptoms

Resources. United Cerebral Palsy. Web. Nov 3, 2011. http://www.ucp.org/resources/one-stop-resource-guide

NINDS Cerebral Palsy Information Page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Web. Nov 3, 2011. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cerebral_palsy/cerebral_palsy.htm

Reviewed November 3, 2011
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith

Add a Comment2 Comments

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Interesting free scientific articles on Cerebral Palsy :
http://www.freefullpdf.com/results.html?cref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.freefullpdf.com%2Fuser%2Fcse2.xml&cof=FORID%3A11&q=cerebral+palsy&sa=Search&as_qdr=all

November 10, 2011 - 10:30am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

May God heal all those suffering from this sickness. May God in heaven bless all those involved in helping these dear friends in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.
http://www.prayer-for-cerebral-palsy-patients.com/

November 6, 2011 - 1:43pm
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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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