Cerebral Palsy: A Guide For Parents

CEREBRAL PALSY A GUIDE FOR PARENTS WHAT IS CEREBRAL PALSY? Cerebral palsy (CP) is an abnormality of motor function (as opposed to mental function) and postural tone that is acquired at an early age, even before birth. Signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy usually show in the first year of life. Cerebral Palsy is a permanent condition without any cure. CLASSIFICATIONS OF CEREBRAL PALSY The medical community has identified 3 types of cerebral palsy (however some people may have symptoms associated with different types, a condition known as mixed cerebral palsy) Spastic Athetoid Ataxic Spastic cerebral palsy refers to a condition in which the muscle tone is increased, causing a rigid posture in one or more of the person's arms or legs. Some also have difficulty eating and incontinence similarly related to muscle spasms. Children with athetoid cerebral palsy suffer from damage to the basal ganglia. The damaged basal ganglia commonly manifests symptoms that include involuntary movements that make the child seem restless. This can make basic movements like sitting up straight, walking or grasping a small toy virtually impossible. A less common type of cerebral palsy, ataxic cerebral palsy (sometimes also referred to as hypotonic cerebral palsy) involves damage to the cerebellum. Ataxic cerebral palsy is usually characterized by significantly diminished muscle tone, coordination and depth perception. Found in the majority of cerebral palsy cases (>70%), spastic cerebral palsy is believed to be due to damage in the outer layer of the brain referred to as the cerebral cortex It also puts children at high risk for serious complications-even death as the involuntary moverments may cause problems with slurred speech, swallowing, eating, drooling and uncontrolled grimacing. Compared to their healthy peers, children with ataxic cerebral palsy may appear constantly fatigued due to their inability to hold their heads steady. When they walk, they appear to be unusually shaky and imbalanced. DIAGNOSING CEREBRAL PALSY Most cases of cerebral palsy are diagnosed by a neurologist who has experience both evaluating the diagnostic test results (EEG, MRI, CT) and assessing impaired children. Most children with CP are diagnosed between the ages of 3 months and 3 years of age. The following are characteristics associated with children who have CP. Seizures Feeding & respiratory problems Irritability Lethargy Coma Jitteriness TREATING CEREBRAL PALSY Without a cure, the conditions associated with cerebral palsy are best treated with a team approach from physicians experienced with this condition. Many treatments concentrate on different therapy modalities including: Physical Therapist Occupational Therapist Speech Therapist evaluates muscle tone, strength and gait (walking) reviews the child's ability to perform tasks of self-help and care, from feeding to manual dexterity evaluates the child's ability to speak and understand speech, advises on how to chew and swallow food, and determines if any dietary modification is needed When people use the term mobility aids, they are referring to cerebral palsy devices that help people with cerebral palsy get around on their own. This may include wheelchairs, braces, and walkers. However, it may also include more complex devices, including stand. RISK FACTORS FOR DEVELOPING CEREBRAL PALSY /! Prematurity Premature babies (those born before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy) who weigh less than 3 1/3 pounds are between 20 and 80 times more likely to develop cerebral palsy than full-term babies. Many of these tiny babies suffer from bleeding in the brain, which can damage delicate brain tissue, or develop periventricular leukomalacia, destruction of nerves around the fluid-filled cavities (ventricles) in the brain. Insufficient oxygen reaching the fetus Infections during pregnancy This may occur when the placenta is not functioning properly or it tears away from the wall of the uterus before delivery, a complication referred to as a placental abruption. Certain infections in the mother can cause brain damage and result in cerebral palsy. Examples of these infections include rubella, cytomegalovirus (usually mild viral infection), herpes (viral infections that can cause genital sores), and toxoplasmosis (a usually mild parasitic infection). Severe jaundice Jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, is caused by the build-up of a pigment called bilirubin in the blood. Without treatment, high bilirubin levels can pose a risk of permanent brain damage, Asphyxia during labor and delivery Until recently, it was widely believed that asphyxia (lack of oxygen) during a difficult delivery was the cause of most cases of cerebral palsy. Studies now show that birth complications, including asphyxia, contribute to only 5 to 10 percent of cases of cerebral palsy. resulting in athetoid cerebral palsy. Certain blood diseases, such as Rh disease, can cause severe jaundice and brain damage, resulting in cerebral palsy. If a child's cerebral palsy was related to LEGAL OPTIONS medical error occurring during labor and delivery, families may be entitled to recover money damages from the physician and/or AVAILABLE FOR FAMILIES hospital for both past and future care-related expenses necessary to care for COPING WITH CEREBRAL PALSY the child over the course of their lifetime. COMMON MEDICAL ERRORS Improperly using the drug pitocin to induce labor Failure to react to the changes in the vital statistic of the fetus during labor Failure to take action when certain changes occur during pregnancy Failure to order certain diagnostic tests, or to properly read test results during pregnancy Failure to order a c-section when fetal distress occurs Failure to deliver the baby quickly enough after the mother's water has broken Improper use of the vacuum extractor during delivery Sponsored by Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers www.Rosenteldinjurylawyers.com created by MilkWhale Sources: Marchof Dimes.com/ Cerebral-Palsy-FAQ.org/ MedicineNet.com / Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov / UCPorg