Cerebral palsy (CP) is a problem that affects muscle tone, movement, and motor skills. It hinders the body's ability to move in a coordinated and purposeful way. It also can affect other body functions that involve motor skills and muscles, like breathing, bladder and bowel control, eating, and talking.
Signs and symptoms appear during infancy or preschool years. In general, cerebral palsy causes impaired movement associated with exaggerated reflexes, floppiness or spasticity of the limbs and trunk, unusual posture, involuntary movements, unsteady walking, or some combination of these.
Signs and symptoms appear during infancy or preschool years. In general, cerebral palsy causes impaired movement associated with exaggerated reflexes, floppiness or spasticity of the limbs and trunk, unusual posture, involuntary movements, unsteady walking, or some combination of these.
What causes Cerebral Palsy?
In many cases, the cause isn't known. Many factors can lead to problems with brain development. Some include:
In many cases, the cause isn't known. Many factors can lead to problems with brain development. Some include:
- Gene mutations that result in genetic disorders or differences in brain development
- Maternal infections that affect the developing fetus
- Fetal stroke, a disruption of blood supply to the developing brain
- Bleeding into the brain in the womb or as a newborn
- Infant infections that cause inflammation in or around the brain
- Traumatic head injury to an infant, such as from a motor vehicle accident, fall or physical abuse
- Lack of oxygen to the brain related to difficult labor or delivery, although birth-related asphyxia is much less commonly a cause than historically thought
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/9/3/13937781/published/k10.jpg?1632520714)
Photo image taken from: robertjrgraham.com/the-symptoms-of-cerebral-palsy/
Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy
The first identified cerebral palsy was in 1860 by an English surgeon known as William Little. It was in 1897 that neurologist Sigmund Freud was able to discern that the condition was a symptom of different unlikely causes during fetal development. In 1980, some scientists at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke ruled that several cases of cerebral palsy could be actually caused by lack of enough oxygen supply especially during birth.
Signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy can vary greatly from person to person. Cerebral palsy can affect the whole body, or it might be limited primarily to one or two limbs, or one side of the body.
A. Movement and coordination
- Stiff muscles and exaggerated reflexes (spasticity)
- Lack of balance
- Difficulty walking, such as walking on toes, a crouched gait, a scissors-like gait with knees crossing, a wide gait or an asymmetrical gait
- Tremors or jerky involuntary movements
- Difficulty with fine motor skills, such as buttoning clothes or picking up utensils
B. Speech and Eating
- Delays in speech development
- Difficulty speaking
- Difficulty with sucking, chewing or eating
- Excessive drooling or problems with swallowing
C. Development
- Delays in reaching motor skills milestones, such as sitting up or crawling
- Learning difficulties
- Intellectual disabilities
- Delayed growth, resulting in smaller size than would be expected
EARLY DETECTION OF CEREBRAL PALSY
By diagnosing a child before one year of age, which is considered early since the disorder is traditionally diagnosed between 12 and 24 months, you can maximize motor and cognitive outcomes and minimize complications such as hip dislocation, scoliosis and spasticity.
A child’s healthcare provider will examine:
- Growth and development
- Muscle tone
- Control of movement
- Hearing and vision
- Posture
- Coordination and balance
If a health care provider finds signs of cerebral palsy during an examination, he or she may then use one or more brain scanning methods to look for damage in the brain.
A. Ultrasound
Photo Source: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/ultrasound-head.html
This method is used most commonly in high-risk preterm infants to take pictures of the brain. Ultrasound is not as good as other methods at taking images of the brain, but it is the safest way to look at the brains of preterm infants.
B. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
B. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
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An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is one of the most effective imaging tests, as it uses both radio waves and magnetic fields to capture images of the child’s brain, and if needed, the child’s spine. However, these types of tests can be tricky when performed on children, as they must remain still for a lengthy imaging session, which generally lasts anywhere from 35 to 45 minutes.
C. Computed tomography (CT)
An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is one of the most effective imaging tests, as it uses both radio waves and magnetic fields to capture images of the child’s brain, and if needed, the child’s spine. However, these types of tests can be tricky when performed on children, as they must remain still for a lengthy imaging session, which generally lasts anywhere from 35 to 45 minutes.
C. Computed tomography (CT)
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CT scans take cross-sectional images of a child's brain. The scan takes roughly 20 minutes and it is used to detect and diagnose cerebral palsy. CT scans can help to eliminate any other conditions or diseases that have symptoms similar to CP.
Can it be treated?
Can it be treated?
Cerebral palsy is a life-long physical disability due to injury of the developing brain. Children and adults with the condition are cared for by a team of healthcare professionals, who will work with you to come up with a care plan.
A variety of therapies play an important role in treating cerebral palsy:
A variety of therapies play an important role in treating cerebral palsy:
- Physical therapy - Muscle training and exercises can help your child's strength, flexibility, balance, motor development and mobility
- Occupational therapy - promote a child’s ability to perform daily rituals and activities in a way that will enhance their quality of life and make possible the enjoyment of independent living.
- Speech and language therapy - improve a child's speech and communication by strengthening the muscles used for speech, increasing oral motor skills and by improving their understanding of speech and language.
- Recreational therapy - promotes well-being and creativity in children with cerebral palsy. Artistic activities offer a creative, relaxing environment for children with disabilities to develop important emotional, cognitive, social, and physical skills.
Currently, there is no cure for cerebral palsy. However, it is one of the most common disorders in the nation and, with ongoing research, scientists are optimistic that one day, a cure will be found.
Food for Thought:
Do you agree that a child with cerebral palsy and other conditions related to this must go to an exclusive school that caters special education? We have mentioned about therapies that can help the child reach their full potential and achieve greater independence.. Does keeping them away from peers from non-special schools advantageous or not?
Bibliography:
Mayo Clinic Cerebral Palsy Overview www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cerebral-palsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20353999 Accessed 9/18/2021
Nemours Children's Health https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/cerebral-palsy.html Accessed 9/18/2021
Facty Health By Mika, Facty Staff https://facty.com/conditions/cerebral-palsy/10-causes-of-cerebral-palsy/3/ Accessed 9/18/2021
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/cerebral-palsy/conditioninfo/diagnosis Accessed 9/18/2021
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cerebral-palsy/treatment/ Accessed 9/18/2021
Food for Thought:
Do you agree that a child with cerebral palsy and other conditions related to this must go to an exclusive school that caters special education? We have mentioned about therapies that can help the child reach their full potential and achieve greater independence.. Does keeping them away from peers from non-special schools advantageous or not?
Bibliography:
Mayo Clinic Cerebral Palsy Overview www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cerebral-palsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20353999 Accessed 9/18/2021
Nemours Children's Health https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/cerebral-palsy.html Accessed 9/18/2021
Facty Health By Mika, Facty Staff https://facty.com/conditions/cerebral-palsy/10-causes-of-cerebral-palsy/3/ Accessed 9/18/2021
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/cerebral-palsy/conditioninfo/diagnosis Accessed 9/18/2021
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cerebral-palsy/treatment/ Accessed 9/18/2021