Cerebral palsy or CP is the most common childhood physical disability. It is a permanent physical condition that affects movement. A new international consensus definition has been proposed "Cerebral palsy (CP) describes a group of disorders of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitation that are attributed to non-progressive disturbances that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain. The motor disorders of cerebral palsy are often accompanied by disturbances of sensation, cognition, communication, perception, and/or behaviour, and/or by a seizure disorder".
The incidence in developed countries is approximately 2-2.5 per 1000 live births. Incidence has not declined over the last 60 years despite medical advances like electro-fetal monitoring. Cerebral palsy is a non-progressive disorder, however secondary orthopaedic deformities are common for example, hip dislocation and scoliosis of the spine.
There is no known cure; medical intervention, Conductive Education (w) have been shown to be helpful. These treatments nowadays focus on developing the person's participation in everyday life not 'fixing' their impairments. While severity varies widely, cerebral palsy ranks among the most costly congenital conditions to manage.
Cerebral palsy is an "umbrella term" in that it refers to a group of different conditions. It has been suggested that no two people with CP are alike even if they have the same diagnosis. Cerebral palsy is divided into three major classifications to describe the different movement impairments. These classifications reflect the area of brain damaged. The three classifications are: (1) Spastic; (2) Dyskinetic; and (3) Ataxic. Cerebral palsy is further classified by topography, dependent on the region of the body affected. These typography classifications include: (1) hemiplegia; (2) diplegia; (3) quadriplegia.
Cerebral palsy can occur during pregancy (~75%), at birth (~5%) or after birth (~15%). 80% of causes are unknown. For the small number where cause is known this can include infections, lack of iodine and significant head injury in very early childhood...
Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
All types of cerebral palsy are characterized by abnormal muscle tone, posture, reflexes, or motor development and coordination.
The classical symptoms are spasticity, paralysis, seizures, unsteady gait, and dysarthria.
While mental retardation and cerebral palsy do not cause each other, the two disorders are found together in approximately 20%-30% of all persons with cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy symptomatology is as diverse as the individuals who have it.
Secondary symptoms of cerebral palsy can include rigidity of limbs, bladder control issues, and impaired tongue movement, or difficulties with spatial perception.
Cerebral Palsy Causes
Since cerebral palsy refers to a group of disorders, there is no exact known cause. Some major causes are of cerebral palsy include asphyxia, hypoxia of the brain, birth trauma or premature birth, genetic susceptibility, certain infections in the mother during and before birth, central nervous system infections, trauma, and consecutive hematomas. After birth, the cerebral palsy may be caused by toxins, physical brain injury, incidents involving hypoxia to the brain (such as drowning), and encephalitis or meningitis. However the cause of most individual cases of cerebral palsy is unknown.
Recent research has demonstrated that intrapartum asphyxia is not the most important cause as it was once considered to be, though it still plays a role, probably accounting for no more than 10 percent of all cerebral palsy cases. The research has shown that infections in the mother, even infections that are not easily detected, may triple the risk of the child developing cerebral palsy, mainly as the result of the toxicity to the fetal brain of cytokines that are produced as part of the inflammatory response.
Premature babies have a higher risk of cerebral palsy because their organs are not yet fully developed. This increases the risk of asphyxia and other injury to the brain, which in turn increases the incidence of cerebral palsy. Periventricular leukomalacia is an important cause of cerebral palsy.
Also, some structural brain anomalies such as lissencephaly cause symptoms of cerebral palsy, although whether that could be considered CP is a matter of opinion (some people say cerebral palsy must be due to brain damage, whereas these people never had a normal brain). Often this goes along with rare chromosome disorders...
Cerebral Palsy Treatments
There is no cure for cerebral palsy, but various forms of therapy can help a person with the disorder to function more effectively. For instance, the use of a standing frame in cerebral palsy can help reduce spasticity and improve range of motion for people with cerebral palsy who use wheelchairs. Nevertheless, there is only some benefit from therapy.
The treatment of cerebral palsy is usually symptomatic and focuses on helping the person to develop as many motor skills as possible or to learn how to compensate for the lack of them. Cerebral palsy does not affect the expected length of life so treatment focuses on quality of life issues. Non-speaking people with cerebral palsy are often successful availing of Augmentative and Alternative Communication systems such as Blissymbols.
Alternative Treatment
The Institutes for The Achievement of Human Potential is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and development of children who have some form of brain injury, including children diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. Established in May of 1955, IAHP has treated and helped thousands of children with neurological problems, including those diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. In contrast to other treatments, The IAHP claims that with "a home program consisting of a healthy diet, clean air, and respiratory programs many of these children can be well without the need for medication."
However, criticism of their program (Doman-Delacato Patterning) is widespread in the medical establishment because studies have not documented its value in the management of cerebral palsy. One of the most vocal is the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)...
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The incidence in developed countries is approximately 2-2.5 per 1000 live births. Incidence has not declined over the last 60 years despite medical advances like electro-fetal monitoring. Cerebral palsy is a non-progressive disorder, however secondary orthopaedic deformities are common for example, hip dislocation and scoliosis of the spine.
There is no known cure; medical intervention, Conductive Education (w) have been shown to be helpful. These treatments nowadays focus on developing the person's participation in everyday life not 'fixing' their impairments. While severity varies widely, cerebral palsy ranks among the most costly congenital conditions to manage.
Cerebral palsy is an "umbrella term" in that it refers to a group of different conditions. It has been suggested that no two people with CP are alike even if they have the same diagnosis. Cerebral palsy is divided into three major classifications to describe the different movement impairments. These classifications reflect the area of brain damaged. The three classifications are: (1) Spastic; (2) Dyskinetic; and (3) Ataxic. Cerebral palsy is further classified by topography, dependent on the region of the body affected. These typography classifications include: (1) hemiplegia; (2) diplegia; (3) quadriplegia.
Cerebral palsy can occur during pregancy (~75%), at birth (~5%) or after birth (~15%). 80% of causes are unknown. For the small number where cause is known this can include infections, lack of iodine and significant head injury in very early childhood...
Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
All types of cerebral palsy are characterized by abnormal muscle tone, posture, reflexes, or motor development and coordination.
The classical symptoms are spasticity, paralysis, seizures, unsteady gait, and dysarthria.
While mental retardation and cerebral palsy do not cause each other, the two disorders are found together in approximately 20%-30% of all persons with cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy symptomatology is as diverse as the individuals who have it.
Secondary symptoms of cerebral palsy can include rigidity of limbs, bladder control issues, and impaired tongue movement, or difficulties with spatial perception.
Cerebral Palsy Causes
Since cerebral palsy refers to a group of disorders, there is no exact known cause. Some major causes are of cerebral palsy include asphyxia, hypoxia of the brain, birth trauma or premature birth, genetic susceptibility, certain infections in the mother during and before birth, central nervous system infections, trauma, and consecutive hematomas. After birth, the cerebral palsy may be caused by toxins, physical brain injury, incidents involving hypoxia to the brain (such as drowning), and encephalitis or meningitis. However the cause of most individual cases of cerebral palsy is unknown.
Recent research has demonstrated that intrapartum asphyxia is not the most important cause as it was once considered to be, though it still plays a role, probably accounting for no more than 10 percent of all cerebral palsy cases. The research has shown that infections in the mother, even infections that are not easily detected, may triple the risk of the child developing cerebral palsy, mainly as the result of the toxicity to the fetal brain of cytokines that are produced as part of the inflammatory response.
Premature babies have a higher risk of cerebral palsy because their organs are not yet fully developed. This increases the risk of asphyxia and other injury to the brain, which in turn increases the incidence of cerebral palsy. Periventricular leukomalacia is an important cause of cerebral palsy.
Also, some structural brain anomalies such as lissencephaly cause symptoms of cerebral palsy, although whether that could be considered CP is a matter of opinion (some people say cerebral palsy must be due to brain damage, whereas these people never had a normal brain). Often this goes along with rare chromosome disorders...
Cerebral Palsy Treatments
There is no cure for cerebral palsy, but various forms of therapy can help a person with the disorder to function more effectively. For instance, the use of a standing frame in cerebral palsy can help reduce spasticity and improve range of motion for people with cerebral palsy who use wheelchairs. Nevertheless, there is only some benefit from therapy.
The treatment of cerebral palsy is usually symptomatic and focuses on helping the person to develop as many motor skills as possible or to learn how to compensate for the lack of them. Cerebral palsy does not affect the expected length of life so treatment focuses on quality of life issues. Non-speaking people with cerebral palsy are often successful availing of Augmentative and Alternative Communication systems such as Blissymbols.
Alternative Treatment
The Institutes for The Achievement of Human Potential is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and development of children who have some form of brain injury, including children diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. Established in May of 1955, IAHP has treated and helped thousands of children with neurological problems, including those diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. In contrast to other treatments, The IAHP claims that with "a home program consisting of a healthy diet, clean air, and respiratory programs many of these children can be well without the need for medication."
However, criticism of their program (Doman-Delacato Patterning) is widespread in the medical establishment because studies have not documented its value in the management of cerebral palsy. One of the most vocal is the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)...
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