Cerebral Palsy
It is typically a group of disorders that can involve brain and nervous system functions, such as movement, learning, hearing, seeing, and thinking. There are different types of cerebral palsy such as spastic, dyskinetic, ataxic, hypotonic, and mixed.
Signs and symptoms
A complete neurological exam is critical. In older people, test for cognitive function is very crucial. Its symptoms include:
- Delayed milestones such as controlling head, rolling over, reaching with one hand, sitting without support, crawling, or walking
- Developing handedness before age of 18 months
- Persistence of "infantile" or "primitive reflexes," which normally disappear 3 to 6 months after birth
- Abnormal muscle tone
- Abnormal movements
- Skeletal deformities
- Vision problems
- Hearing loss
- Speech problems
- Seizures
- Mental retardation
- Dental problems
- Bladder control problems
Causes
Cerebral palsy is caused by injuries or abnormalities of the brain. Premature infants have a slightly higher risk of developing cerebral palsy. Its major causes are:
- Bleeding in the brain
- Brain infections (encephalitis, meningitis, herpes simplex infections)
- Head injury
- Infections in the mother during pregnancy (rubella)
- Severe jaundice
Treatment
There is no permanent cure for cerebral palsy. The objective of treatment is to help the person be as independent as possible.
- Our physiotherapy experts at Norvic Healthcare recommend occupational therapy for children suffering from cerebral palsy.
- An occupational therapist helps kids with severe developmental delays learn some basic tasks such as bathing, getting dressed, brushing their teeth, and feeding themselves. They also help kids with behavioural disorders learn anger-management techniques (i.e., instead of hitting others or acting out, the children would learn positive ways to deal with anger, such as writing about feelings or participating in a physical activity).
