Cerebral Palsy

 A brief overview of Cerebral Palsy (CP)

 

CP is a group of neurological disorders that affect movement and muscle coordination. It is a permanent disorder that appears during infancy or early childhood. This disorder can be caused by areas of the fetal brain that are involved in movement, posture, and balance not developing completely. However, CP can also be caused by injuries to the brain before, during or after birth. 

 

Symptoms of CP vary in severity and children diagnosed with CP showcase a variety of symptoms and related conditions.

 

Symptoms of CP include:

•     Difficulty with fine motor skills
•     Impaired vision
•     Seizures
•     Hearing loss
•     Learning disabilities or intellectual disabilities
•     Lack of balance and stiff muscles
•     Difficulty chewing, eating or swallowing
•     Delayed motor skills such as crawling or sitting upright
•     Poor bone density

 

There are different types or classifications of cerebral palsy such as:

•         Spastic cerebral palsy

This is the most common type of cerebral palsy. People with spastic CP have stiff muscles which affects their movement. Seizures, difficulty walking and speaking are also symptoms of spastics CP. This type of CP usually arises when the motor cortex is damaged.

 

•         Dyskinetic cerebral palsy

Uncontrolled yet slow movements of the limbs characterise this type of CP. Difficulty in hearing, breathing, and speaking are symptoms of dyskinetic CP. Damage to the basal ganglia of the brain leads to dyskinetic CP.

 

•         Ataxic cerebral palsy

This type of CP is characterised by a poor sense of position in space, difficulty balancing, and poor coordination and precise movements. Ataxic CP usually arises from damage to the cerebellum of the brain.

 

•         Mixed cerebral palsy

This type of CP is characterised by symptoms that do not correspond to one type of CP but a combination of CP classifications.

 

CP can be diagnosed by the age of two. However, depending on the child’s symptoms, a diagnosis before the age of 5 can be more challenging. Treatment usually begins as soon as possible.

 

CP therapies and treatments may consist of:

 

•         Occupational therapy to assist children in their everyday activities such as dressing and eating

•         Speech therapy helps children to communicate clearly

•         Physical therapy improves balance, strength and coordination

•         Medication may be prescribed to treat symptoms such as muscle stiffness