Cerebral Palsy Facts
Cerebral palsy is diagnosed in approximately 1,200 to 1,500 preschoolers and 5,000 infants and toddlers each year, as of September 2009. While this is usually a lifelong disability, most cerebral palsy patients can lead normal adult lives with proper therapy and treatments (Reference 2).
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Basic Facts
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Cerebral palsy refers to a neurological condition that causes decrease in muscle function. It occurs during infancy or early childhood, but the patient's condition does not worsen as time goes on. A number of neurological disorders can be classified as cerebral palsy, but problems with muscle function and body movements are a common thread in all diagnoses (Reference 1).
Causes
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Abnormalities in the brain are the basic cause of cerebral palsy, but those abnormalities can be a result of a number of things. Brain damage or head injuries during the first few months of life are two causes of the condition. For example, children involved in auto accidents may sustain head injuries that cause cerebral palsy. In addition, the condition may also be caused by brain infections (Reference 1).
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Types
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There are three basic types of cerebral palsy. The first is spastic cerebral palsy, and it is characterized by stiff and difficult movements. Athetoid cerebral palsy is when a person has involuntary movements of their muscles. When a person has the ataxic type of the condition, he has poor depth perception and balance. Cerebral palsy sufferers may also have any combination of the three types (Reference 2).
Therapies
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Therapy or treatment for the condition should begin as soon as a child is diagnosed. Children may need continued occupational or physical therapy, and medications may be necessary to control seizures or muscle spasms. There is also much technology that can help cerebral palsy patients lead normal lives, such as wheelchairs, computers, and voice-recognition devices. Therapy may include teaching patients to work with these technologies (Reference 2).
Research
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According to the National Institute of Health, research focuses on the causes of problems in early brain development. In addition, studies about events that occur in infants' brains may lead to more information about what causes infant brain damage, which could lead to plans for prevention of some cases of cerebral palsy (Reference 1).
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