Cerebral palsy

Cerebral Palsy is caused by brain injury or brain malformation that occurs before, during, or immediately after birth while the infant’s brain is under development. But how a brain injury affects a child’s motor functioning and intellectual abilities is highly dependent on the nature of a brain injury, where the damage occurs, and how severe it is. What is brain injury, birth injury and brain malformation? The cause of Cerebral Palsy is a brain injury or brain malformation that occurs while the brain is developing — before, during, or after birth. As a result of the brain damage during brain development a child’s muscle control, muscle coordination, muscle tone, reflex, posture and balance can be affected. It can also impact a child’s fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and oral motor functioning. Every case of Cerebral Palsy is unique to the individual. This is due in part by the type of injury, extent of injury, and the timing of injury to the developing brain. The brain damage that causes Cerebral Palsy is a result of either: • Prenatal disturbance of brain cell migration – genetic and environmental factors disturb brain cell migration as cells move to their appropriate location during brain development. • Prenatal poor myelination (insulation) of developing nerve cell fibers – brain function is impeded when poor myelin provides an inadequate protective covering over nerve cells that aid in the transmission. • Perinatal brain cell death – events in the birthing proce...

Mobility Mobility is a person’s ability to control their physical movements and to get around. Impaired mobility is associated with a risk of falls and other injuries. Mobility problems in cerebral palsy include muscle weakness, balance problems, coordination difficulties, spasms, stiffness, and muscle atrophy. A person with cerebral palsy can be treated and have a good recovery after an injury, but some injuries can lead to life-threatening complications. Head trauma, fractures of the spine, and severe abdominal injuries may necessitate surgical intervention and can lead to permanent consequences. Surgery and recovery can be risky for people who have cerebral palsy. Children and adults with substantial cognitive deficits are highly dependent on others and often cannot independently manage to avoid risks, such as the risk of injury or illness. Cognitive impairment interferes with communication, making it difficult for people to express physical or emotional needs or distress. Problems can progress and may become life-threatening when they aren't identified and treated in a timely manner. Vision Problems Varying degrees of visual defects can be associated with cerebral palsy. Some types of vision defects can be corrected with lenses or interventional procedures and may not have a substantial impact on survival. However, severe vision problems can affect safety, especially if someone has motor and/or cognitive limitations. Musculoskeletal Disabilities While cerebral palsy is...

Overview What is cerebral palsy? Cerebral palsy (CP) is caused by an injury to the immature brain that causes a disorder of movement and posture. It can occur before or during childbirth, or in their first two years of life. Children and adults with cerebral palsy have problems moving, controlling and coordinating their muscles. Some people with cerebral palsy also have intellectual disabilities, seizures and difficulties seeing or hearing. Although there is no cure, healthcare providers can reduce symptoms with therapy, medications and surgery. How common is cerebral palsy? Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability in kids in the United States. Of every 1,000 babies born in the U.S. every year, between 1 and 4 have cerebral palsy. Boys are slightly more likely to get CP, and the condition is more common among multiples. Babies born prematurely or with a low birth weight have a higher risk of CP. What are the types of cerebral palsy? Cerebral palsy is classified in two ways – what parts of the body are most affected, and what movement disorder is most prominent. There are four types of The types of cerebral palsy are: • Spastic cerebral palsy: Around 75% of people with CP have spastic cerebral palsy. People with spastic CP have stiff, tight muscles that contract uncontrollably. Their movements, including walking and talking, may appear jerky due to muscle • Dyskinetic cerebral palsy: Also known as athetoid cerebral palsy, this type of CP causes irregular movements...

When aging with cerebral palsy, individuals tend to be more susceptible to complications than individuals without disabilities. Cerebral palsy is nonprogressive, meaning that the initial changes to the brain do not progress over time. However, secondary effects of cerebral palsy can worsen with age. To help you understand the effects of aging with cerebral palsy, this article will discuss: • • • Does Cerebral Palsy Get Worse with Age? Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition, and poor management can cause motor impairments to worsen with age. Because cerebral palsy is a developmental disorder, it affects an individual’s movements starting very early in life. As children grow and develop, it’s likely that their movements will be affected and result in abnormalities. For example, one of the most common effects of cerebral palsy is high muscle tone, also known as spasticity. When individuals have spasticity, the muscles remain involuntarily contracted. This pulls the body into abnormal postures or causes asymmetrical growth. To prevent cerebral palsy from affecting an individual’s growth and quality of life, it is essential to prioritize early management of motor impairments and secondary conditions. The following section will discuss several ways cerebral palsy and its associative conditions can worsen with age. Complications of Aging with Cerebral Palsy Various complications can arise from cerebral palsy. In the absence of proper management, they can affect the individual bot...

The abilities of people who are living with cerebral palsy vary tremendously. If you have cerebral palsy, you might have to use a wheelchair and may be unable to eat without assistance. You may be an athlete who uses a brace intermittently, or you may have abilities that lie anywhere in between these two extremes. Coping with your condition requires a variety of strategies that have been shown to be effective in living with cerebral palsy. When cerebral palsy causes profound disability, the dedication of the family and the support of professional caregivers is necessary. If your cerebral palsy is mild, it is generally one's own coping skills, rather than the coping skills of caregivers, that determines overall ability to adjust to and maximize personal abilities and satisfaction with life as a whole. Education Education is an empowering tool for anyone, including people who are living with cerebral palsy. Education makes it possible to enjoy the benefits of better employment opportunities, to learn about how to manage money and to read for general knowledge and enjoyment. It is if important to remember to seek out fitting educational resources. In addition to the professionally recommended devices for assistance with ambulation, family strategies are the key components of ensuring safety while maximizing freedom to get around the house and the outside world. Family and caregivers may need to tailor the right routine for someone living with cerebral palsy. School Attending ...

Cerebral palsy (CP) refers to a group of disorders that affect muscle movement and coordination. In many cases, cerebral palsy also affects vision, hearing, and sensation. The word “cerebral” means having to do with the brain. The word “palsy” means weakness or problems with body movement. Cerebral palsy is the most common cause of motor disabilities in childhood. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it affects The symptoms of cerebral palsy vary from person to person and range from mild to severe. Some people with cerebral palsy may have difficulty walking and sitting. Other people with cerebral palsy can have trouble grasping objects. The effects of the condition can become more or less obvious or limiting as a child grows and develops motor skills. They also vary depending on Some of the more common symptoms include: • delays in reaching motor skill milestones, such as • • variations in muscle tone, such as being • • • • • • favoring one side of the body, such as reaching with one hand • neurological issues, such as Most children with cerebral palsy are born with it, but some may not show signs of it until months or years later. Symptoms usually appear In most cases, the exact cause of cerebral palsy is unknown. Atypical brain development or injury to the developing brain can cause cerebral palsy. The damage affects the part of the brain that controls body movement, coordination, and posture. This brain damage usually occurs before birth, b...