CEREBRAL PALSY

Cerebral Palsy: Intracranial Hemorrhage (IVH)

2012-02-18T21:27:00.000-08:00

Cerebral Palsy: Intracranial Hemorrhage (IVH)
BRAIN INJURY – BRAIN HEMORRHAGE

Hemorrhaging inside the brain, clinically referred to as intracranial hemorrhage (IVH), can damage or kill areas of the brain crucial to development and motor function. When this happens, resulting impairment — as well as the severity of impairment — is dependent upon the location and degree of damage. The hemorrhage can be arterial or venous.

Arterial bleeding results in additional loss of oxygen to tissue as arteries carry oxygenated blood to the heart.
Venous bleeding is internal hemorrhages affecting the veins that return blood to the heart. Arterial hemorrhages are harder to control than venous.

Hemorrhaging is bleeding. When bleeding is isolated in a particular organ or tissue, localized swelling, known as a hematoma, can occur. A hematoma can damage and kill surrounding tissue by compressing the tissue or reducing its blood supply. Clotting mechanisms or swelling that block blood supply will eventually stop a hematoma.
Cerebral Palsy.

Cerebral Pasly : Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) or Intrapartum Asphyxia

2012-02-16T21:25:00.000-08:00

Cerebral Pasly : Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) or Intrapartum Asphyxia
BRAIN INJURY – LACK OF OXYGEN TO THE BRAIN (ASPHYXIA)

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is the brain injury caused by asphyxia – also commonly known as oxygen deprivation. The newborn’s body can compensate for brief periods of depleted oxygen, but if the asphyxia lasts too long, brain tissue is destroyed. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy due to fetal or neonatal asphyxia is a leading cause of death or severe impairment among infants. Such impairment can include epilepsy, developmental delay, motor impairment, neurodevelopmental delay, and cognitive impairment. Usually, the severity of impairment cannot be determined until a child is three to four years old.

Asphyxia was long thought to be the cause of cerebral palsy, but two studies have shown that only 9% of cases are a direct result of asphyxia. In the remaining 91% of cases, factors such as premature birth, complications of birth or problems immediately following birth cause cerebral palsy. In some cases, cause cannot be definitively determined.
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Cerebral Palsy: Cerebral Dysgenesis

2012-02-14T21:24:00.000-08:00

Cerebral Palsy: Cerebral Dysgenesis
BRAIN MALFORMATION – ABNORMAL BRAIN DEVELOPMENT

Cerebral dysgenesis is abnormal brain development, also known as brain malformation, which differs from the other three causes of cerebral palsy which involve brain injury. Brain malformation is the result of:

    a brain that did not fully develop
    a brain that grew abnormally
    a brain that experienced incomplete division
    a brain that developed with incomplete organization

Billions of cells, and various types of cells, continuously form and move to distinct locations during brain development; skull development is occurring, as well.

Any event that interrupts brain development can result in malformed or missing areas of the brain. This can result in loss of brain function. Brain malformation can vary in severity; defects of greater severity lead to one, or a combination of, conditions such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, intellectual impairment, and sensory impairment.
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Cerebral Palsy: Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL)

2012-02-12T21:22:00.000-08:00

Cerebral Palsy: Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL)
BRAIN INJURY – DAMAGE TO THE WHITE MATTER BRAIN TISSUE

Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is a type of brain damage that involves the periventricular white matter of the brain. Damage to white matter results in the death and decay of injured cells, leaving empty areas in the brain — called lateral ventricles, which fill with fluid (a condition called leukomalacia).

The brain primarily consists of white matter and gray matter. Gray matter has neural cell bodies, which can initiate nerve impulses, while white matter transports impulses between gray matter cells. The periventricular white matter that surrounds two horseshoe shaped cavities in the brain is primarily responsible for the transmission of nerve impulses that control motor function. Damage in this area can result in spasticity and intellectual impairment.

Myelin is an integral component of white matter that coats and essentially insulates cell pathways, promoting speedy transmission of nerve impulses. Damage to myelin slows and impedes nerve transmission, possibly impairing brain function.

Approximately 60-100% of infants with periventricular leukomalacia are diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Four to 26% of premature infants placed in neonatal intensive care units have cerebral palsy. In severe cases, postmortem examinations have discovered that 75% of premature infants who died shortly after birth had periventricular leukomalacia.

Experts believe intrauterine infections are the underlying factor for periventricular leukomalacia. Membranes around the fetus are affected by the release of toxins, which travel through amniotic fluid to selectively injure areas of the developing brain. These toxins can also cause premature rupture of the membranes and premature birth.
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Cerebral Palsy: Four Types of Brain Damage (Brain Injury or Brain Malformation)

2012-02-10T21:16:00.000-08:00

Cerebral Palsy: Four Types of Brain Damage (Brain Injury or Brain Malformation)
There are four types of brain damage / Cerebral Palsy as follow

1.DAMAGE TO WHITE MATTER TISSUE IN THE BRAIN Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL)
2. BRAIN MALFORMATION OR ABNORMAL BRAIN DEVELOPMENT Cerebral Dysgenesis
3.LACK OF OXYGEN TO THE BRAIN OR ASPHYXIA Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) or Intrapartum Asphyxia
4. BRAIN HEMORRHAGE Intracranial Hemorrhage (IVH)

History and Who Discovered Cerebral Palsy

2012-02-08T21:16:00.000-08:00

History and Who Discovered Cerebral Palsy

The history and origin of cerebral palsy includes a number of great minds, generous hearts, and dedicated people striving to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. Dr. William John Little pioneered the study of cerebral palsy using his own childhood disability as an inspiration in the mid 1800's. His innovative techniques are still helping people today.

Sir William Osler, expounded on Little’s research and wrote the first book on cerebral palsy. Dr. Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, proposed the idea that cerebral palsy might result from abnormal fetal development – decades before the medical field embraced the concept.

Other individuals and organizations made historical strides toward helping those with cerebral palsy, as well. At different times, the U.S. government passed crucial legislation to modernize care and further the rights of individuals with disability. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed the Community Mental Health Act, which promoted community-based care as an alternative to institutionalization. On July 26, 1990, President George H. W. Bush passed the Americans with Disabilities Act, prohibiting employers from discriminating against people with disability.

Marie Killilea wrote “Karen,” a novel about her daughter’s life with cerebral palsy. The book hit the New York Times bestselldr list in 1952 and is still in print. Isabelle and Leonard Goldenson, and Ethel and Jack Hausman were also parents of children with cerebral palsy. Both couples were giants in their respective industries and well-known philanthropists who used their influence to found the organization that eventually became the United Cerebral Palsy Association (UCP).

Important breakthroughs in medicine, such as blood typing, the use of phototherapy to cure jaundice, and the development of a vaccine for rubella helped prevent cerebral palsy, and continue to do so today. Meanwhile, technological advances allow people to continually redefine what it means to live with disability.cerebral palsy
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Common Causes of Cerebral Palsy

2012-01-25T20:46:00.000-08:00

Common Causes of Cerebral Palsy

About 70 percent of cerebral palsy cases result from events occurring before birth that can disrupt normal development of the brain. Contrary to common belief, lack of oxygen reaching the fetus during labor and delivery contributes to only a small minority of cases of cerebral palsy, according to a 2003 report by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). A small number of babies also develop brain injuries in the first months or years of life that can result in cerebral palsy. In many cases, the cause of cerebral palsy in a child is not known.

Some of the known causes of cerebral palsy include:

Infections during pregnancy - Certain infections in the mother, including rubella (German measles), cytomegalovirus (a usually mild viral infection) and toxoplasmosis (a usually mild parasitic infection) can cause brain damage and result in cerebral palsy. Recent studies suggest that maternal infections involving the placental membranes (chorioamnionitis) may contribute to cerebral palsy in full-term as well as preterm babies (those born before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy). A 2003 study at the University of California at San Francisco found that full-term babies were four times more likely to develop cerebral palsy if they were exposed to chorioamnionitis in the womb. Reproductive/urinary tract infections also may increase the risk of preterm delivery, another risk factor for cerebral palsy.

Insufficient oxygen reaching the fetus - For example, when the placenta is not functioning properly or it tears away from the wall of the uterus before delivery, the fetus may not receive sufficient oxygen.

Prematurity - Premature babies who weigh less than 3 1/3 pounds are up to 30 times more likely to develop cerebral palsy than full-term babies. Many of these tiny babies suffer from bleeding in the brain, which can damage delicate brain tissue, or develop periventricular leukomalacia, destruction of nerves around the fluid-filled cavities (ventricles) in the brain.
Asphyxia during labor and delivery - Until recently, it was widely believed that asphyxia (lack of oxygen) during a difficult delivery was the cause of most cases of cerebral palsy. The ACOG/AAP report shows that fewer than 10 percent of the type of brain injuries that can result in cerebral palsy are caused by asphyxia.
Blood Diseases - Rh disease, an incompatibility between the blood of the mother and her fetus, can cause severe jaundice and brain damage, resulting in cerebral palsy. Rh disease usually can be prevented by giving an Rh-negative woman an injection of a blood product called Rh immune globulin around the 28th week of pregnancy and again after the birth of an Rh-positive baby. Blood clotting disorders (thrombophilias) in either mother or baby also may increase the risk.
Severe jaundice - Jaundice, yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes caused by the build-up of a pigment called bilirubin in the blood, occasionally becomes severe. Without treatment, severe jaundice can pose a risk of permanent brain damage resulting in athetoid cerebral palsy.
Other birth defects - Babies with brain malformations, numerous genetic diseases and other physical birth defects are at increased risk of cerebral palsy.
Acquired cerebral palsy - About 10 percent of children with cerebral palsy acquire it after birth due to brain injuries that occur during the first two years of life. The most common causes of such injuries are brain infections (such as meningitis) and head injuries.

While most doctors, nurses, midwives, and hospital technicians provide a high standard of care for their patients, unfortunately, many families are harmed by medical mistakes. Parents of a child suffering with cerebral palsy should contact an experienced cerebral palsy lawyer to research the cause of their child’s condition. Medical mistakes are responsible for many birth injury cases and it would be impossible for a parent, alone, to determine if medical malpractice caused their child's injury. It is only through the dedicated and thorough efforts of a legal and medical team that the cause can be ascertained.
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Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis

2012-01-20T20:42:00.000-08:00

Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis

The diagnosis of cerebral palsy includes the consideration and monitoring of many factors, and may not be made until after the first or second years of development. A child's brain and central nervous system have an amazing ability to recover completely, or partially, following injury - this sometimes leads to a delay in diagnosis. In addition, children develop at different rates, and motor skill difficulties can frequently be signs of other problems - misdirecting diagnosis. In most cases, an interdisciplinary team of medical professionals will be gathered to review the child's strengths and weaknesses, test results, risk factors and medical history. Based on these numerous criteria, a diagnosis of cerebral palsy may be made.

Several tests can be used to assist in the diagnosis, and determine the severity of cerebral palsy as follow:

* Intelligence tests often are administered to a child with CP to evaluate mental impairment;
* An electroencephalogram (EEG) traces electrical activity in the brain and can reveal patterns that suggest a seizure disorder;
* Imaging tests are helpful in diagnosing hydrocephalus, structural abnormalities, and tumors. This information can help the physician assess the child's long-term prognosis;
* Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create pictures of the internal structures of the brain. This study is performed on older children. It defines abnormalities of white matter and motor cortex more clearly than other methods.
cerebral-palsy-caused-by-medical malpractice

Cerebral Palsy caused By Medical Malpractice

2012-01-15T20:37:00.000-08:00

Cerebral Palsy caused By Medical Malpractice
Many cases of cerebral palsy are caused by substandard medical care. If malpractice is to blame for your child’s CP, a settlement to take care of your child for life may be available.

Help is only a phone call or click away. Contact our in-house Board–Certified OBGYN and highly experienced lawyers (recognized by Best Lawyers in America) for an invaluable but free case evaluation.

Medical mistakes that cause a child’s cerebral palsy can take the form of misreading electronic fetal monitor strips, misreading sonograms, improperly using vacuum extractors, and delaying a needed C-Section, just to name a few. The mechanism of injury is often inadequate oxygen or trauma to the brain.

You can’t count on your health care providers to alert you to mistakes that may have caused your child’s CP.

A child's cerebral palsy diagnosis changes your life and your family forever. Legal compensation cannot undo a wrong, but it can provide support for families struggling with medical expenses and future cost of living concerns, and can help provide peace of mind.
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Cerebral Palsy Other Therapy

2012-01-11T20:35:00.000-08:00

Cerebral Palsy Other Therapy

Many children with cerebral palsy develop emotional problems, behavior problems, or both. They can benefit from sessions with a psychologist or counselor.

Personal computers and related technologies offer wonderful opportunities for communication, social interaction, education, entertainment, and employment for people with cerebral palsy.

Cerebral Palsy Treatment

2011-09-14T20:53:00.000-07:00

Cerebral Palsy Treatment

There is no cure for cerebral palsy. With early and ongoing treatment, however, the disabilities associated with cerebral palsy can be reduced. Many different therapies are available, most under the supervision of a medical specialist or other allied professional. Not all of these therapies are right for every person with cerebral palsy. The therapy regimen for a specific individual with cerebral palsy should be tailored to meet the needs of that individual. A treatment may work for one child but not for another. The parents and the child’s care team work together to choose only those treatments that offer some benefit to the child.
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Cerebral Palsy Prevention

2011-08-14T20:55:00.000-07:00

Cerebral Palsy Prevention

Often the cause of cerebral palsy is not known, and nothing can be done to prevent it. However, some important causes of cerebral palsy can be prevented in many cases, including premature birth, low birth weight, infections, and head injuries.

* Seek appropriate prenatal care as early as possible in the pregnancy. Many women schedule a prepregnancy visit so they can be properly prepared for a healthy pregnancy. Appropriate care is available from physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse-midwives.

* Avoid using cigarettes, alcohol, and illicit drugs during pregnancy: these increase your risk of premature delivery.

* Rubella (measles) during pregnancy or early in life is a cause of cerebral palsy. Testing for rubella immunity before you become pregnant allows you to be immunized, which protects both you and your baby from contracting this potentially devastating illness.

* Appropriate prenatal care includes testing for Rh factor. Rh incompatibility is easily treated but can cause brain damage and other problems if untreated.

* Routine vaccinations of babies can prevent serious infections such as meningitis that can lead to cerebral palsy.

* Make sure your child is restrained in a properly installed car seat and wears a helmet when riding on a bicycle.

Cerebral Palsy Outlook

2011-07-14T20:57:00.000-07:00

Cerebral Palsy Outlook

With proper therapy, many people with cerebral palsy can lead near-normal lives. Even those with very severe disabilities can improve their condition significantly, although they will never be able to live independently.

Approximately 25% of children with cerebral palsy have mild involvement with few or no limitations in walking, self-care, and other activities. Approximately half are moderately impaired to the extent that complete independence is unlikely but function is satisfactory. Only 25% are so severely disabled that they require extensive care and are unable to walk.

Of the 75% of children with cerebral palsy who are eventually able to walk, many rely on assistive equipment. The ability to sit unsupported may be a good predictor of whether a child will walk. Many children who can sit unsupported by age 2 years eventually will be able to walk, while those who cannot sit unsupported by age 4 years probably will not walk. These children will use wheelchairs to move around.

The likelihood of medical complications of cerebral palsy is related to the severity of the condition. Generally, the more severe the CP, the more likely are related conditions such as seizures and mental retardation. Individuals with quadriplegia are much more likely than those with diplegia or hemiplegia to have these related conditions.

* Seizure disorders occur in about one third of people with cerebral palsy.

* Mental retardation occurs in about 30-50% of people with cerebral palsy. Standardized tests that evaluate primarily verbal skills may underestimate a child’s intelligence level.

* Obesity is a common problem in children who are confined to a wheelchair or are unable to move freely.

Life expectancy in people with cerebral palsy also is related to the severity of their condition. People with milder forms of cerebral palsy have the same life expectancy as the general population. Those with severe forms of cerebral palsy typically have a shorter life span, especially if they have many medical complications.

Some studies have found that abnormalities of muscle tone or movement in the first several weeks or months after birth may gradually improve over the first years of life. In one study, almost 50% of very young infants thought to have cerebral palsy and 66% of those thought to have spastic diplegia “outgrew” these signs of cerebral palsy by age 7 years. Many children do not manifest full motor signs that are suggestive of cerebral palsy until aged 1-2 years. Thus, some propose that the diagnosis of cerebral palsy should be deferred until the child is aged 2 years.

Cerebral Palsy-Support Groups and Counseling

2011-06-14T20:58:00.000-07:00

Cerebral Palsy-Support Groups and Counseling

Clearly, children with cerebral palsy may have very substantial problems, but almost all have the potential to learn, achieve, succeed, and create a happy life for themselves. This cannot happen without effort, and they need the help of their families. Having a child with cerebral palsy brings many challenges. It is understandable, then, that parents and siblings of a child with cerebral palsy may have significant stress. You may feel guilt, anger, anxiety, and/or hopelessness. You may feel alone and uncertain about what you should do.

Before you can help yourself or your child, you need to develop appropriate expectations and get organized. Only then can you learn practical ways to cope with the child’s problems and put these methods into practice. But making changes is not always easy. Sometimes it helps to have someone to talk to.

This is the purpose of support groups. Support groups consist of people in the same situation as you. They come together to help each other and to help themselves. Support groups provide reassurance, motivation, and inspiration. They help you see that your situation is not unique and not hopeless, and that gives you power. They also provide practical tips on coping with cerebral palsy and navigating the medical, educational, and social systems that you will rely on for help for yourself or your child. Being in a cerebral palsy support group is recommended by most mental health professionals.

Support groups meet in person, on the telephone, or on the Internet. To find a support group that works for you, contact the following organization. You can also ask a member of your child’s care team, or go on the Internet. If you do not have access to the Internet, go to the public library.

* United Cerebral Palsy - (800) 872-5827 or (202) 776-0406

Cerebral Palsy Information

2011-05-14T21:00:00.000-07:00

Cerebral Palsy Information

March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
(888) 663-4637 or (914) 428-7100

National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disorders

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
PO Box 1492
Washington, DC 20013
(800) 695-0285 or (202) 884-8200

Pathways Awareness Foundation
200 East Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60601
(800) 955-2445

United Cerebral Palsy
1660 L Street NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036-5602
(800) 872-5827 or (202) 776-0406

ORIGINS OF CEREBRAL PALSY

2011-04-14T21:07:00.000-07:00

ORIGINS OF CEREBRAL PALSY

A young practitioner named Sigmund Freud, before he turned to the human unconscious as his life’s work, first hypothesized that cerebral palsy may be closely associated with natal deveopments. It was several decades before his conjectures became widely accepted. Still, depending on which source you are using, the causes of cerebral palsy has been suggested to be anywhere from 20% to 50% unknown. This is partially because though there are many associated markers or conditions associated with the disease, and evidence of those conditions or risk factors don’t guarantee that they are, indeed, the cause.

In the 1970s obstetricians suggested that if the sequence was altered by making care more ‘optimal’ (which they defined as emergency caesarean section for abnormalities on the electronic fetal monitor) then the cerebral palsy would be avoided (Quilligan and Paul 1975). The major effects of electronic monitoring on the fetal heart in labour are an increase in caesarean section rates and a reduced rate of neonatal seizures; it has had no effect on the rates of cerebral palsy (Stanley and Watson 1993, Nelson et al. 1996). This may be because few cases of cerebral palsy result from this pathway. Even those cases in which brain damage is caused by excessive intrapartum hypoxia, clinical signs sufficient to warrant emergency caesarean section may only be recognizable after the damage is done. And of course caesarean section may not be the ‘optimal’ response.? (Stanley, Blair & Alberman, p. 107)

Children that acquire cerebral palsy later in childhood from influences unconnected to natal or birth trauma are the easiest cases to clearly isolate the cause. Many factors contribute to the difficulty is discerning cause for children already born with the condition or later exhibit the symptoms from events before they were born or during the birth process. We strongly suggest the book (004) for the details of this difficult search. Literally thousands of researchers are exploring for clues to decrease the occurrence of this malady. Huge strides have been made in the developed world reducing the various ways that cerebral palsy does occur. The only reason that there has not been a stready decline in the percentage of children exhibiting the disease is that Western strides in the ability to keep alive and bring to health extremely premature infants has also increased the number of children who contract cerebral palsy, children whom 30 years ago would have never made it to their first birthday.

A profound challenge to researchers in this field is teasing out the difference between a specific cause or causes from epiphenomena, or events associated with causes but not the causes themselves. For example periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is the strongest predictor of cerebral palsy in extremely preterm infants. Yet many of the variables associated with PVL could be assigned to either cause or epiphenomena depending on the situation. A particular insult, when it occurred and where specifically in the brain it occurred, complicated by an understanding of the extent of the resources available to combat the damage, all contribute to a determination on how specifically cerebral palsy was created in a specific case. It is important to understand how several variables can ally themselves in different constellations to contribute to an outcome. For example a very preterm infant is vulnerable to outside influences a full term baby would be unhindered by. A small number of those preterm infants might suffer a combination of assaults that would result in later diagnosis. At the same time, a genetic defect might not evidence itself with a healthy child until that child was exposed to any number of effects including infection or physical trauma.
The researchers and practitioners in this field are often nothing less than compassionate detectives following a very old trail exploring events that have unfolded in the tinest portion of a human brain.

Consider the outline below, from (Geralis, p. 14), for an introduction to the risk factors associated with cerebral palsy.

Pregnancy Risk Factors
• Maternal diabetes or hyperthyroidism
• Maternal high blood pressure
• Poor maternal nutrition
• Maternal seizures or mental retardation
• Incompetent cervix (premature dilation) leading to premature delivery
• Maternal bleeding from placenta previa (a condition in which the placenta covers a portion of the cervix leads to bleeding as the cervix dilates) or abruptio placenta (premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall)

Delivery Risk Factors
• Premature delivery (less than 37 weeks gestation)
• Prolonged rupture of the amniotic membranes for more than 24 hours leading to fetal infection
• Severely depressed (slow) fetal heart rate during labor, indicating fetal distress
• Abnormal presentation such as breech, face, or transverse lie, which makes for a difficult delivery

Neonatal Risk Factors
• Premature birth – the earlier in gestation a baby is delivered, the more likely she is to have brain damage
• Asphyxia – insufficient oxygen to the brain due to breathing problems or poor blood flow in the brain.
• Meningitis – infection over the surface of the brain
• Seizures caused by abnormal electrical activity of the brain
• Interventricular hemorrhage (I. V. H.) – bleeding into the interior spaces of the brain or into the brain
tissue
• Periventricular encephalomalacia (P.V.L.) – damage to the brain tissue located around the ventricles
(fluid spaces) due to the lack of oxygen or problems with blood flow

Some of the techniques used to prevent cerebral palsy include constant monitoring of blood pressure and gases in the neonate and the mother, intubation, handling, suction or the airways, administering sodium bicarbonate, “blood volume expansion, pressors to reduce blood supply, sedatives, unbilical artery catheter placement, heparinization of catheters, ductal ligation, super oxide dismutase.” (Stanley, Blair & Alberman, p. 161) In the developing nations iodized salt and vaccinations have had a profound effect on lowering the incidence of cerebral palsy. All through this site you will discover interventions and supplements that have resulted in the birth and growth and of humans free of cerebral palsy.

Cerebral Palsy Symptoms

2010-08-14T20:52:00.000-07:00

Cerebral Palsy Symptoms

The signs of cerebral palsy are usually not noticeable in early infancy but become more obvious as the child’s nervous system matures. Early signs of cerebral palsy include the following:

* Delayed milestones such as controlling head, rolling over, reaching with one hand, sitting without support, crawling, or walking

* Persistence of “infantile” or “primitive” reflexes, which normally disappear 3-6 months after birth

* Developing handedness before age 18 months: This indicates weakness or abnormal muscle tone on one side, which may be an early sign of CP.

Problems and disabilities related to Cerebral Palsy range from very mild to very severe. Their severity is related to the severity of the brain damage. They may be very subtle, noticeable only to medical professionals, or may be obvious to the parents and other caregivers.

* Abnormal muscle tone: Muscles may be very stiff (spastic) or unusually relaxed and “floppy.” Limbs may be held in unusual or awkward positions. For example, spastic leg muscles may cause legs to cross in a scissor-like position.

* Abnormal movements: Movements may be unusually jerky or abrupt, or slow and writhing. They may appear uncontrolled or without purpose.

* Skeletal deformities: People who have cerebral palsy on only one side may have shortened limbs on the affected side. If not corrected by surgery or a device, this can lead to tilting of the pelvic bones and scoliosis (curvature of the spine).

* Joint contractures: People with spastic cerebral palsy may develop severe stiffening of the joints because of unequal pressures on the joints exerted by muscles of differing tone or strength.

* Mental retardation: Some, although not all, children with cerebral palsy are affected by mental retardation. Generally, the more severe the retardation, the more severe the disability overall.

* Seizures: About one third of people with cerebral palsy have seizures. Seizures may appear early in life or years after the brain damage that causes cerebral palsy. The physical signs of a seizure may be partly masked by the abnormal movements of a person with cerebral palsy.

* Speech problems: Speech is partly controlled by movements of muscles of the tongue, mouth, and throat. Some individuals with cerebral palsy are unable to control these muscles and thus cannot speak normally.

* Swallowing problems: Swallowing is a very complex function that requires precise interaction of many groups of muscles. People with cerebral palsy who are unable to control these muscles will have problems sucking, eating, drinking, and controlling their saliva. They may drool. An even greater risk is aspiration, the inhalation into the lungs of food or fluids from the mouth or nose. This can cause infection or even suffocation.

* Hearing loss: Partial hearing loss is not unusual in people with cerebral palsy. The child may not respond to sounds or may have delayed speech.

* Vision problems: Three quarters of people with cerebral palsy have strabismus, which is the turning in or out of one eye. This is due to weakness of the muscles that control eye movement. These people are often nearsighted. If not corrected, strabismus can lead to more severe vision problems over time.

* Dental problems: People with cerebral palsy tend to have more cavities than usual. This results from both defects in tooth enamel and difficulties brushing the teeth.

* Bowel and/or bladder control problems: These are caused by lack of muscle control.
Cerebral Palsy

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Cerebral Palsy Causes

2010-08-14T20:50:00.000-07:00

Cerebral Palsy Causes

Cerebral palsy results from damage to certain parts of the developing brain.

* This damage can occur early in pregnancy when the brain is just starting to form, during the birth process as the child passes through the birth canal, or after birth in the first few years of life.
* In many cases, the exact cause of the brain damage is never known.
At one time, problems during birth, usually inadequate oxygen, were blamed for cerebral palsy.
* We now know that fewer than 10% of cases of cerebral palsy begin during birth (perinatal).
* In fact, current thinking is that at least 70-80% of cases of cerebral palsy begin before birth (prenatal).
* Some cases begin after birth (postnatal).
* In all likelihood, many cases of cerebral palsy are a result of a combination of prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal factors.

Risk factors linked with cerebral palsy include the following:

* Infection, seizure disorder, thyroid disorder, and/or other medical problems in the mother
* Birth defects, especially those affecting the brain, spinal cord, head, face, lungs, or metabolism
* Rh factor incompatibility, a difference in the blood between mother and fetus that can cause brain damage in the fetus.
* Certain hereditary and genetic conditions
* Complications during labor and delivery
* Premature birth
* Low birth weight (especially if less than 2 pounds at birth)
* Severe jaundice after birth
* Multiple births (twins, triplets)
* Lack of oxygen (hypoxia) reaching the brain before, during, or after birth
* Brain damage early in life, due to infection (such as meningitis), head injury, lack of oxygen, or bleeding.
Cerebral Palsy..
cerebral-palsy-overview.

Types of Cerebral Palsy

2010-08-14T20:49:00.000-07:00

Types of Cerebral Palsy
Types of cerebral palsy are as follows:

* Spastic (pyramidal): Increased muscle tone is the defining characteristic of this type. The muscles are stiff (spastic), and movements are jerky or awkward. This type is classified by which part of the body is affected: diplegia (both legs), hemiplegia (one side of the body), or quadriplegia (the entire body). This is the most common type of CP /cerebral palsy, accounting for about 70-80% of cases.

* Dyskinetic (extrapyramidal): This includes types that affect coordination of movements. There are 2 subtypes.
o Athetoid: The person has uncontrolled movements that are slow and writhing. The movements can affect any part of the body, including the face, mouth, and tongue. About 10-20% of cerebral palsy cases are of this type.
o Ataxic: This type affects balance and coordination. Depth perception is usually affected. If the person can walk, the gait is probably unsteady. He or she has difficulty with movements that are quick or require a great deal of control, such as writing. About 5-10% of cases of cerebral palsy are of this type.

* Mixed: This is a mixture of different types of cerebral palsy. A common combination is spastic and athetoid.

Many individuals with cerebral palsy have normal or above average intelligence. Their ability to express their intelligence may be limited by difficulties in communicating. All children with cerebral palsy, regardless of intelligence level, are able to improve their abilities substantially with appropriate interventions. Most children with cerebral palsy require significant medical and physical care, including physical, occupational, and speech/swallowing therapy.

Despite advances in medical care, cerebral palsy remains a significant health problem. The number of people affected by cerebral palsy has increased over time. This may be because more and more premature infants are surviving. In the United States, about 2-3 children per 1000 have cerebral palsy. As many as 1,000,000 people of all ages are affected. Cerebral palsy affects both sexes and all ethnic and socioeconomic groups.

Cerebral Palsy Overview

2010-08-14T20:47:00.000-07:00

Cerebral Palsy Overview

Cerebral palsy (CP) is an umbrella term for a group of disorders affecting body movement, balance, and posture. Loosely translated, cerebral palsy means “brain paralysis.” Cerebral palsy is caused by abnormal development or damage in one or more parts of the brain that control muscle tone and motor activity (movement). The resulting impairments first appear early in life, usually in infancy or early childhood. Infants with cerebral palsy are usually slow to reach developmental milestones such as rolling over, sitting, crawling, and walking.

Common to all individuals with cerebral palsy is difficulty controlling and coordinating muscles. This makes even very simple movements difficult.

* Cerebral palsy may involve muscle stiffness (spasticity), poor muscle tone, uncontrolled movements, and problems with posture, balance, coordination, walking, speech, swallowing, and many other functions.

* Mental retardation, seizures, breathing problems, learning disabilities, bladder and bowel control problems, skeletal deformities, eating difficulties, dental problems, digestive problems, and hearing and vision problems are often linked to cerebral palsy.

* The severity of these problems varies widely, from very mild and subtle to very profound.

* Although the magnitude of the problems may wax and wane over time, the condition does not get worse over time.

Cerebral palsy...

Cerebral Palsy

2010-08-14T20:46:00.001-07:00

Cerebral Palsy
Also called: CP

Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move and to maintain balance and posture. The disorders appear in the first few years of life. Usually they do not get worse over time. People with cerebral palsy may have difficulty walking. They may also have trouble with tasks such as writing or using scissors. Some have other medical conditions, including seizure disorders or mental impairment.

Cerebral palsy happens when the areas of the brain that control movement and posture do not develop correctly or get damaged. Early signs of cerebral palsy usually appear before 3 years of age. Babies with cerebral palsy are often slow to roll over, sit, crawl, smile or walk. Some babies are born with cerebral palsy; others get it after they are born.

There is no cure for cerebral palsy, but treatment can improve the lives of those who have it. Treatment includes medicines, braces, and physical, occupational and speech therapy.