|
What
is cerebral palsy?
Cerebral Palsy
is a term used to describe a group of chronic
conditions affecting body movement and muscle
coordination. It is caused by damage to one
or more specific areas of the brain, usually
occurring during fetal development; before,
during or shortly following birth; or during
infancy.
"Cerebral"
refers to the brain and "palsy"
to muscle weakness or poor coordination which
is often but not always a symptom.
Cerebral palsy can be severe,
such as total inability to control body movements,
or mild, such
as a slight speech impairment. Depending upon
which areas of the brain have been damaged,
one or more of the following may occur:
- muscle tightness or spasm
- involuntary movement
- disturbance in gait and mobility
In addition, the following may occur: abnormal
sensation and perception; impairment of sight,
hearing or speech; seizures; and mental retardation.
Cerebral palsy is NOT
a disease and should never be referred to as
such. It is NOT
hereditary, communicable, progressive or a primary
cause of death.
What
are the causes?
A large number of factors can injure the developing
brain and produce cerebral palsy. One important
cause is an insufficient
amount of oxygen reaching the fetal or
newborn brain. Oxygen supply can be interrupted
by premature separation of the placenta from
the wall of the uterus, awkward birth position
of the baby, labor that is too long or too abrupt,
or interference with circulation in the umbilical
cord.
Other known causes are:
- premature birth
- low birth weight (often associated with
multiple births)
- RH or A-B-O blood type incompatibility
between mother and infant
- infection of the mother with German measles
or other viruses in early pregnancy
- micro-organisms that attack the infant's
central nervous system
Most causes of cerebral palsy
are related to the developmental and birth processes.
In these cases, the condition is called congenital
cerebral palsy. A less common type is
acquired cerebral palsy
which usually occurs before two years of age
and is caused by such external factors as head
injury (vehicle accidents, falls, child abuse)
or brain infection.
BACK
TO TOP
What
are the different types of cerebral palsy?
There are three main types:
- spastic -- stiff
and difficult movement caused by permanently
contracted muscles
- athetoid -- involuntary
and uncontrolled movement
- ataxic -- disturbed
sense of balance and depth perception
There may also be a mixture of these types
for any individual.
How
many people have cerebral palsy?
It is estimated by the Centers for Disease Control
in Atlanta that some 400,000 children and adults
in the United States have some degree of cerebral
palsy. Currently, about 5,000 babies and infants
are diagnosed each year. In New York City, as
across the country and across disability groups,
a powerful self-advocacy movement monitors their
rights and quality of life.
In the New York City metropolitan area, an
estimated 35,000 individuals have some form
of cerebral palsy, including approximately 16,000
children and adults in the five boroughs of
New York City.
Can
cerebral palsy be managed?
In dealing with cerebral palsy, "management"
is a better word than "treatment."
Management helps the individual achieve maximum
potential in growth and development. The earlier
that the condition is identified and a management
program undertaken, the better. A management
program for a young child includes attention
to the child's movement, learning, independent
self-help skills, speech, hearing, vision and
social and emotional development. Certain medications,
surgery, and orthotics may help nerve and muscle
coordination and prevent dysfunction.
As an individual matures, additional support
services may be offered, such as personal assistance,
continuing therapy, educational and vocational
training, housing services, counseling, transportation,
recreation/leisure programs, employment opportunities,
and assistive technology resources.
Many adults with cerebral palsy go to college,
have jobs, get married, raise families, and
live in homes of their own.
Can
cerebral palsy be prevented?
Prevention is increasingly possible today. Pregnant
women are tested routinely for the RH factor.
If negative, the baby can be given an exchange
transfusion after birth and the mother can be
immunized to prevent blood incompatibility in
a subsequent pregnancy. If a newborn has jaundice,
this can be treated by phototherapy in the hospital.
Other programs are directed toward preventing
premature birth, reducing exposure of pregnant
women to viruses and infections, controlling
diabetes, anemia and other nutritional deficiencies,
and reducing unnecessary exposure to X-rays,
drugs, alcohol, nicotine and medication. Good
prenatal care is of great importance to assure
a healthy full-term pregnancy.
For more information about cerebral palsy,
you may wish to contact United Cerebral Palsy
Associations, Inc. at (800) USA-5UCP, or check
out their web site at www.ucp.org.
BACK
TO TOP
|
