Cerebral PalsyBy: Annie Herald

IntroductionCerebral palsy is a term used to describe a group of chronic conditions affecting body movements and muscle coordination. It is caused by damage to one or more specific areas of the brain, usually occurring during fetal development or infancy. It also can occur before, during or shortly following birth.

Symptoms & DiagnosisSymptomsMuscle tightness or spasmAbnormal sensation and perceptionImpairment of sight, hearing or speechSeizuresDiagnosisSo why do doctors frequently delay making a final diagnosis and prognosis when a child may have cerebral palsy? Part of the answer lies in the plasticity of a child's central nervous system, or it's ability to recover completely or partially after an injury occurs.

Muscle tightness or spasm

Abnormal sensation and perception

Impairment of sight, hearing or speech

Seizures

So why do doctors frequently delay making a final diagnosis and prognosis when a child may have cerebral palsy? Part of the answer lies in the plasticity of a child's central nervous system, or it's ability to recover completely or partially after an injury occurs.

How Common Is It?About 10,000 babies per year in the U.S. will develop cerebral palsy (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). An estimated 800,000 people have cerebral palsy in US (United Cerebral Palsy).

About 10,000 babies per year in the U.S. will develop cerebral palsy (Center for Disease Control and Prevention).

An estimated 800,000 people have cerebral palsy in US (United Cerebral Palsy).

How Does It Affect You?Struggles with fine motor skills. These include handling scissors, using crayons, buttoning a shirt, and any other movement that uses her fingers and hands Struggles with gross motor skills. These include walking, riding a tricycle, kicking a ball, and other movements that use his legs and arms. Trouble sitting upright. It takes a lot of muscle tone to sit up without toppling over. Shakes a lot or has uncontrollable jerking of her legs, arms, or torso. Muscles are weak. Body tremors, drooling, weakened muscles in his face; may lose control of his tongue.

Struggles with fine motor skills. These include handling scissors, using crayons, buttoning a shirt, and any other movement that uses her fingers and hands

Struggles with gross motor skills. These include walking, riding a tricycle, kicking a ball, and other movements that use his legs and arms.

Trouble sitting upright. It takes a lot of muscle tone to sit up without toppling over.

Shakes a lot or has uncontrollable jerking of her legs, arms, or torso.

Muscles are weak.

Body tremors, drooling, weakened muscles in his face; may lose control of his tongue.

Different SeveritiesCerebral palsy can range in severity from mild to severe. For example, a person with mild spastic hemiplegia is likely to be fully mobile, active, and independent but have a slightly abnormal gait (walking movement). He or she may have some difficulty in using one hand and one foot may drop or drag. At the other extreme, someone with severe quadriplegia will be wheelchair bound and need help with daily living tasks. Many people are in between these two extremes.

Cerebral palsy can range in severity from mild to severe. For example, a person with mild spastic hemiplegia is likely to be fully mobile, active, and independent but have a slightly abnormal gait (walking movement). He or she may have some difficulty in using one hand and one foot may drop or drag. At the other extreme, someone with severe quadriplegia will be wheelchair bound and need help with daily living tasks. Many people are in between these two extremes.

Different Types of CPAthetoid or dyskinetic cerebral palsy Spastic cerebral palsyAtaxic cerebral palsyMixed cerebral palsy

Athetoid or dyskinetic cerebral palsy

Spastic cerebral palsy

Ataxic cerebral palsy

Mixed cerebral palsy

A Real Life Example of CPLila is a 3-year-old child with cerebral palsy. I have babysat her for nearly all of her life, & I have watched her progress. At 3-years-old, she is learning to talk, but can’t stand up on her own yet. However, her progress over the last few years is remarkable.Lila has low muscle tone, which makes it very difficult to walk & move around. She has had over 2 years of physical therapy, and is making lots of progress.

Is There a Cure?At this time, there is no cure for CP. However, proper treatment can make a huge difference. Some examples of treatment are: PhysiotherapyMedicationSurgery

Physiotherapy

Medication

Surgery

Why I Chose This TopicI chose this topic because after babysitting Lila for all of her life, I care. I want to know all I can about CP, so that I can help Lila progress.

Referenceshttp://www.patient.co.uk/health/Cerebral-Palsy.htmhttp://gait.aidi.udel.edu/gaitlab/cpGuide.htmlhttp://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cerebral_palsy/cerebral_palsy.htm