What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a general term used to describe a group of disorders that affect the normal development of movement and posture. Cerebral Palsy is caused by an injury to the brain—such as infection, stroke, trauma, or the loss of oxygen to the brain—that occur before, during, or after birth or within the first 2 years of life. The injury to the brain is "non-progressive," meaning that it does not get worse after the initial injury. However, the day-to-day activities that can be affected by the injury during an individual's childhood can worsen throughout the individual's life.
Difficulties from Cerebral Palsy can range from mild to severe. Individuals with Cerebral Palsy may have trouble seeing, hearing, feeling touch, thinking, or communicating. They may also experience seizures.
Cerebral Palsy affects approximately 3.6 infants per each 1,000 born in the United States. The number of children diagnosed with CP has grown in recent years as a result of the increased survival rates of premature babies and those born with low birth weights. The average life expectancy of adults with CP has increased as well.
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of CP differ from one person to the next. Symptoms might appear as early as 2 months of age and are usually seen before a child is 2 years old. Parents usually notice early signs that their child is not able to hold his or her head up as well as other babies, or easily reach, roll, sit, crawl, or walk.
Other symptoms of CP related to movement can include:
Tight muscles that worsen with stress, illness, and time
Tight joints that do not bend or stretch all the way, especially in the hands, elbows, hips, knees, or ankles
Muscle weakness, or a decline in movements that the child had already been performing
Lack of efficient movement of the legs, arms, trunk, or neck
Lack of coordination
"Floppy" muscles, especially in the neck or trunk
Muscle tremors
Other symptoms of CP can include:
Difficulty speaking or being understood
Learning disorders (even though the child has normal intelligence)
Vision problems
Hearing problems
Seizures
Pain in joints that is often caused by tight muscles or poor posture
Decreased mouth muscle strength or coordination leading to problems with eating and/or increased drooling
Constipation
Difficulty holding urine
Slower-than-normal growth
To Learn More about Cerebral Palsy visit: http://www.cerebralpalsy.org/about-cerebral-palsy/definition
or to schedule an appointment call 910-295-6868 or visit us online at www.pinehurstneurology.com