What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral means having to do with the brain. Palsy means weakness or problems with using the muscles. Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect a child's ability to move and to maintain balance and posture. Children with cerebral palsy have damage to the part of the brain that controls muscle tone, so they can have difficulty keeping their body in a certain posture or position.
In most cases, cerebral palsy is present at birth, although it may not be detected for months or years. A small percent of children are diagnosed with congenital cerebral palsy due to a brain injury during the birthing process or as a result of brain damage in the first few months or years of life following brain infections, such as bacterial meningitis or viral encephalitis, or the results of head injury -- most often from a motor vehicle accident, a fall, or child abuse.
Symptoms?
The symptoms of cerebral palsy vary from child to child. Symptoms can also change over time. A child with severe cerebral palsy might not be able to walk and might need lifelong care. A child with mild cerebral palsy, on the other hand, might walk a little awkwardly, but might not need any special help.
Children with cerebral palsy can have other medical conditions, including seizure disorders, vision impairment, hearing loss, and mental impairment.
Prevention
Optimal well being prior to conception, adequate prenatal care, and protecting infants from accidents or injury are all crucial preventative measures.
Diagnosis
Doctors diagnose cerebral palsy by testing an infant's motor skills and looking carefully at the mother’s and infant's medical history. In addition to checking for slow development, abnormal muscle tone, and unusual posture, a physician will test the infant's reflexes and look for early development of hand preference.
How to Treat Cerebral Palsy
A multi-disciplinary management program should be put in place as early as possible to help the child achieve maximum potential in growth and development. Certain medications, surgery, and braces may be needed to improve nerve and muscle coordination and prevent or minimize dysfunction.