What is Cerebral Palsy?
What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral Palsy (CP) describes a wide range of disorders affecting body movement and muscle coordination. It is caused by damage to one or more specific areas of the brain usually occurring during fetal development, before, during or shortly after birth or during infancy. Faulty development or damage to motor areas in the brain disrupt the brain’s ability to control adequate movement and posture
The range of CP symptoms is extremely broad. Mild sufferers may only suffer from awkward coordination or problems with control of the limbs or hands. In severe cases, victims may have almost no muscle control, incapacitating them and profoundly affecting speech and movement.
Contemporary approaches, such as those used at the CereCare Wellness Center, stress physical and speech therapies to help the body develop abilities that would be permanently absent without early, intensive intervention. With good treatment, patience and hard work, many children with CP can gain enough control of their bodies to lead normal lives.
Causes
Cerebral palsy is caused by injuries or abnormalities of the brain. Most of these problems occur as the baby grows in the womb, but they can happen at any time during the first 2 years of life, while the baby's brain is still developing.
For some people with cerebral palsy, parts of the brain are injured due to low levels of oxygen (hypoxia) in the area. The causes are unknown.
Premature infants have a slightly higher risk of developing cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy may also occur during early infancy as a result of several conditions, including:
● Bleeding in the brain
● Brain infections (encephalitis, meningitis, herpes simplex infections)
● Infections in the mother during pregnancy (rubella)
● Severe jaundice
In some cases, the cause of cerebral palsy is never determined.
Symptoms
There are several different types of cerebral palsy. Some people have a mixture of symptoms.
Symptoms of spastic cerebral palsy, the most common type, include:
● Muscles that are very tight and do not stretch. They may tighten up even more over time.
● Abnormal walk (gait): arms tucked in toward the sides, knees crossed or touching, legs make "scissors" movements, walking on toes
● Joints are tight and do not allow full extension of limbs (joint contracture)
● Muscle weakness or loss of movement in a group of muscles (paralysis)
The symptoms may affect one arm or leg, one side of the body, both legs, or all arms and legs
The following symptoms may occur in other types of cerebral palsy:
● Abnormal movements (twisting, jerking, or writhing) of the hands, feet, arms, or legs while awake, which get worse during periods of stress
● Tremors
● Unsteady gait
● Loss of coordination
● Floppy muscles, especially at rest, and joints that move around too much
Other brain and nervous system symptoms:
● Decreased intelligence or learning disabilities are common, but intelligence can be normal
● Speech problems (dysarthria)
● Hearing or vision problems
● Seizures
● Pain, especially in adults (can be difficult to manage)
Eating and digestive symptoms
● Difficulty sucking or feeding in infants, or chewing and swallowing in older children and adults
● Problems swallowing (at all ages)
● Vomiting or constipation
Other symptoms:
● Increased drooling
● Slower than normal growth
Symptoms of cerebral palsy can be very different between people with this group of disorders. Symptoms may:
● Be very mild or very severe
● Only involve one side of the body or both sides
● Be more pronounced in either the arms or legs, or involve both the arms and legs
Symptoms are usually seen before a child is 2 years old, and sometimes begin as early as 3 months old. Parents may notice that their child is delayed in reaching developmental stages such as sitting, rolling, crawling, or walking.
A full neurological exam is critical. In older people, testing cognitive function is also important.
