Cerebral palsy

When I was younger,  I worked with children with disabilities, I did this for 3 years. I would like to write a few articles on some of the disabilities that are out there. I know I was only young when I first started working in this place, but I can

                             Cerebral palsy is a disability associated with movement and posture. It can affect a person’s speech and appearance. Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the brain; this may be caused by an illness; such as rubella during pregnancy, meningitis or an accidental head injury in early childhood.

                   Signs in early childhood;

n      Early feeding problems

n      Delayed development

n      Poor muscle control

n      Muscle spasms

n      Lack of  coordination

                           Damage to the brain will not get any worse, but the effects on the body can become more apparent with age. Early intervention and treatment can reduce the severity of the disability.

                           A child’s diagnosis can be very difficult before 12 months. Doctors will usually wait and make a more accurate diagnosis after 18 months. By the age of 2 years old a Doctor can tell whether the child has HEMIPLEGIA (one side of the body is affected), DIPLEGIA (all four limbs are affected, legs more than arms), QUADRIPLEGIA (all four limbs are affected and the muscles of the face and mouth may be affected), or PARAPLIGIA (both legs, but not the arms are affected). Predictions of speaking ability and mental ability are also evaluated after 2 years of age.

                       There are special aids to help people with cerebral palsy, as your child grows constant physiotherapy will be needed to stretch your child’s muscles and keep them flexible. When speech is affected there are practical aids that can be used e.g.; communication boards and electronic devices that provide written or spoken words, remember that a lot of the time the child who is affected with cerebral palsy will understand what is being said but may not be able to respond. When a child is unable to walk there are special wheelchairs that will assist with their movement.

                         Children with cerebral palsy can lead independent lives; they have the potential to participate in the same activities as people without cerebral palsy.

                         If you are concerned about your child’s development, if they are showing signs that you may be worried about, make an appointment with your Doctor and discuss your concerns, they will then do an evaluation and make a prognosis.

                        I hope this helps………………..