CEREBRAL PALSY

Overview & Facts

Cerebral Palsy is a medical condition in which the brain is damaged and causes trouble controlling the movements of the body. Some people can also have trouble with thinking, but many can think well. It is their body movements they have problems with, not their mind. There is no cure for Cerebral Palsy.

Who can get Cerebral Palsy?

Doctors can usually tell if a kid has CP by the time he or she is 18 months old, sometimes much earlier. However, no one knows for certain how kids get cerebral palsy.

  • For most kids with CP the problem in the brain happens before they are born.
  • Sometimes it can happen if the baby is born way too early (premature) or is very sick after birth.
  • Sometimes it can happen if a baby has a head injury in the first year or so after birth.

Types & Symptoms

There are 3 main types of Cerebral Palsy.

  1. Spasticity – The most common type. This is when the muscles are weak and stiff. In spastic cerebral palsy both lots of muscles contract so the person is unable to make controlled movements.
  2. Athetoid – The person’s body moves in ways that the person is unable to control. This means their arms or legs may move suddenly when they don’t want them to move.
  3. Ataxic  – This causes shaky movement and affects the person’s ability to balance or coordinate movement. They can have problems with walking and writing.

Diagnosis & Medications

Cerebral Palsy has no cure but it doesn’t mean that a person with this condition can’t live a normal life. Many kids with cerebral palsy are still able to go to regular school, join in games, use computers and many of the kinds of usual stuff that other kids do.

The following can be done to help the person with Cerebral Palsy.

  • They may need to wear braces to help them walk or may need to be in a wheelchair to help them get around.
  • They may be in a special school where everything is set up to help them and they are taught and cared for by specially trained people.
  • They may have regular physiotherapy to exercise their muscles and help their muscles to relax.
  • Occupational therapists can help with finding ways for a kid to be able to do things. Some kids may need special equipment to help them in their daily lives – such as special chairs or special spoons to help them eat.
  • They also often get speech therapy to help them talk.
  • They may need to take some medications especially when a person have seizures.

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