| Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a nonprogressive disorder that affects a child's movement and posture and it occurs in about 2-5 out of every 1000 live births. It is not a disease in itself, but rather it is a clinical syndrome that can have many different causes. Although it is not always possible to figure out what exactly caused CP in a child (less than 50% of children have a known cause), it is related to an injury to the immature brain, either during pregnancy, around the time of birth (especially if premature), or after the child is born (trauma, meningitis, etc.).
There are different types of CP and they are classified by the type of movement disorder or muscle tone the child has and which parts of the body are affected. Most children have spastic CP, with muscle stiffness and increased muscle tone, increased reflexes and muscle weakness. Subtypes of spastic CP depend on which parts of the body are affected, including hemiplegia (the arm and leg on one half of the body is affected), quadriplegia (all four limbs are involved), and diplegia (the legs are mostly affected). A less common type of CP is dyskinetic CP, which includes involuntary movement disorders. The last and least common type is ataxic CP, although children can have mixed CP, with features of more than main type.
Most children are suspected to have CP when they have a delay in their motor development. This is usually after six months of age, and many children with CP aren't diagnosed until they are 18 months old. Some early signs and symptoms of CP can include excessive crying or irritability, feeding problems, excessive stiffness when dressing, changing diapers, or bathing.
Most of the early signs of CP relate to not meeting normal developmental milestones, such as being unable to bring his hands together by 4 months, not rolling over by 6 months, having head lag when pulled to a sitting position after 6 months, not sitting by himself without support by 8 months, or not crawling by 12 months. It is important to keep in mind that mild delays in motor development can be normal, there is a range during which these milestones are usually met, so your child may not meet each one at the same time as another child. Discuss any concerns that you may have about your child's development with your Pediatrician.
Other signs can be increased (muscles feel stiff, firm or hard) or decreased (muscles feel flabby) muscle tone, increased reflexes, or differences between the two sides of the body (keeping one hand fisted, having different levels of muscle tone or strength between the two sides of the body, or having a preference for which hand or arm he uses before he is a year old).
Besides the movement and posture problems, children with CP can also have mental retardation, language disorders, learning disabilities, behavioral problems, seizures, poor growth, hearing and vision problems, and many have excessive drooling. The degree to which they may have these disabilities varies with each child.
Early diagnosis is important so that treatment can be started, and your doctor will probably refer you to an Early Childhood Intervention program if your child has motor delays. Although there is no cure for CP, treatments are geared toward allowing a child to function as normally and independently as possible. Treatments include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and the use of bracing or AFOs (ankle-foot orthoses to assist with walking). Your child will probably also need formal testing of his vision and hearing and he may need to see an orthopedic surgeon (especially if there is limitation in movement of any joint), neurosurgeon and/or neurologist.
Cerebral Palsy Recommended Reading List:
In association with amazon.com, these books can help you to learn more and become better educated about your child's condition, its treatment and preventing complications.
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