Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is characterized by the inability to fully control motor function. One or more of the following symptoms can occur: spasm; involuntary movement; seizures; abnormal sensation and perception; sight, hearing or speech problems; and mental retardation.
Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the part of the brain that controls and coordinates muscular action. This can occur during pregnancy, labor or shortly following birth. Head injuries from motor vehicle accidents or falls and lead poisoning can also be causes.
Cerebral palsy can be prevented by good prenatal care for at-risk pregnancies. Increased use of neonatal intensive care units, particularly for high-risk infants, has helped to decrease the occurrence of cerebral palsy. Good prenatal nutrition, treatment of anemia and abstaining from tobacco and alcohol use during pregnancy also reduces the occurrence of cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy can be managed more than treated. Management consists of helping the child achieve maximum potential in growth and development. This should be started as early as possible with a management program to include attention to the child's movement, learning speech, hearing, social and emotional development. Such programs utilize doctors and other professionals to assist the family as well as the child. Certain medications, surgery and braces are sometimes used to improve nerve and muscle coordination or to prevent or correct a deformity.
Only through a continued and sustained effort to prevent the incidence of cerebral palsy during birth and a commitment to mainstream people with cerebral palsy into productive jobs and independent living will the impact of cerebral palsy be lessened.
Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the part of the brain that controls and coordinates muscular action. This can occur during pregnancy, labor or shortly following birth. Head injuries from motor vehicle accidents or falls and lead poisoning can also be causes.
Cerebral palsy can be prevented by good prenatal care for at-risk pregnancies. Increased use of neonatal intensive care units, particularly for high-risk infants, has helped to decrease the occurrence of cerebral palsy. Good prenatal nutrition, treatment of anemia and abstaining from tobacco and alcohol use during pregnancy also reduces the occurrence of cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy can be managed more than treated. Management consists of helping the child achieve maximum potential in growth and development. This should be started as early as possible with a management program to include attention to the child's movement, learning speech, hearing, social and emotional development. Such programs utilize doctors and other professionals to assist the family as well as the child. Certain medications, surgery and braces are sometimes used to improve nerve and muscle coordination or to prevent or correct a deformity.
Only through a continued and sustained effort to prevent the incidence of cerebral palsy during birth and a commitment to mainstream people with cerebral palsy into productive jobs and independent living will the impact of cerebral palsy be lessened.