Cerebral Palsy: The Basics

There are so many different health conditions and disorders in the world that it would be nigh on impossible to be familiar with absolutely every single type, especially without years and years of medical education and training. However, there are a variety of conditions that many of us have heard of but don’t know all too much about. Cerebral palsy tends to be one of these. It is estimated that around 500,000 children under the age of eighteen have cerebral palsy and that around two to three children out of every 1000 born in the States alone are affected by the condition or develop the condition. So, it might be time to familiarise yourself with the condition itself, what causes it, and what treatments are available. Here’s a little more information on the subject covering all of these areas.

What Is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy can also be referred to in short as “CB”. It is essentially a condition that is identified through impaired muscle coordination and other disabilities. This, of course, sounds relatively vague, but signs and symptoms of the condition can vary quite largely between different individuals with cerebral palsy.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is usually the result of a baby’s brain not developing normally when in the womb, or damage to the brain during or shortly following birth. You can find out more about cerebral palsy causes here.

Being Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy

It is not usually immediately obvious when a baby has been born and developed cerebral palsy. Instead, symptoms tend to become more prevalent when a child reaches two to three years of age. Around this time, they may begin to exhibit difficulties reaching standardised age related milestones, such as sitting, crawling, and walking. The infant may seem either too stiff or too floppy, have weak arms and legs, make random and uncontrolled movements, walk on their tip toes rather than the flats of their feet, or make fidgety and jerky movements. There are also a range of other difficulties that the infant can experience, such as having difficulty swallowing, speaking, or experiencing learning difficulties. If you have any concerns about your own child’s development, it is important that you take them to see a GP as soon as possible.

Treatment of Cerebral Palsy

Unfortunately, there isn’t a “cure” for cerebral palsy as of yet. But the good news is that individuals experiencing cerebral palsy can undergo a range of different types of treatment that can help to minimise discomfort and some of the symptoms that come hand in hand with the condition. If an individual is struggling with their speech, they can undergo speech therapy. If they are having problems with their movement, they can engage with physiotherapy, carrying out techniques in stretching and exercise. Medication can be prescribed for stiffness and occupational therapy can help to improve and simplify day to day tasks and routines.

These are just the basics of cerebral palsy. But hopefully, the above information has helped you to understand the condition a little better!