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Cerebral Palsy FAQ
What is Cerebral Palsy?
The term cerebral palsy refers to any one of a number of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement and muscle coordination but don’t worsen over time. Even though cerebral palsy affects muscle movement, it isn’t caused by problems in the muscles or nerves. It is caused by abnormalities in parts of the brain that control muscle movements. The majority of children with cerebral palsy are born with it, although it may not be detected until months or years later. The early signs of cerebral palsy usually appear before a child reaches 3 years of age. The most common are a lack of muscle coordination when performing voluntary movements (ataxia); stiff or tight muscles and exaggerated reflexes (spasticity); walking with one foot or leg dragging; walking on the toes, a crouched gait, or a “scissored” gait; and muscle tone that is either too stiff or too floppy. A small number of children have cerebral palsy as the result of brain damage in the first few months or years of life, brain infections such as bacterial meningitis or viral encephalitis, or head injury from a motor vehicle accident, a fall, or child abuse.
Is there any treatment?
Cerebral
palsy can’t be cured, but treatment will often improve a child's
capabilities. Many children go on to enjoy near-normal adult lives if
their disabilities are properly managed. In general, the earlier
treatment begins the better chance children have of overcoming
developmental disabilities or learning new ways to accomplish the tasks
that challenge them. Treatment may include physical and occupational
therapy, speech therapy, drugs to control seizures, relax muscle
spasms, and alleviate pain; surgery to correct anatomical abnormalities
or release tight muscles; braces and other orthotic devices;
wheelchairs and rolling walkers; and communication aids such as
computers with attached voice synthesizers.
What is the prognosis?
