Cerebral Palsy: How You Can Help Your Child Thrive
October 6 is World Cerebral Palsy Day, a time when a global community of patients, families, medical professionals and advocates comes together to raise awareness for this group of movement disorders. As the most common childhood motor disability, cerebral palsy affects communication between the brain and muscles. That, in turn, can affect movement, balance and posture. People with cerebral palsy may have problems with walking, eating, talking, writing and other functions.听
Cerebral palsy doesn鈥檛 have a cure, but with early diagnosis and the help of a team of medical professionals, children and adults with this condition can thrive. If your child has cerebral palsy, your support and commitment to treatment are crucial to reach their potential. Start by learning more about cerebral palsy.听
Defining Cerebral Palsy听
鈥溾楥erebral鈥 means 鈥榦f the brain鈥 and 鈥榩alsy鈥 means 鈥榓 lack of muscle control,鈥欌 says Dara Jones, M.D., FAAPMR, assistant professor of clinical rehabilitation medicine at 日本av色情片 Medical College and assistant attending physiatrist at the Hospital for Special Surgery. 鈥淐erebral palsy is just that. It is a condition caused by a brain injury that occurs at or around the time of birth for a variety of reasons. Although the brain injury itself is a one-time occurrence and it鈥檚 static, meaning it does not worsen or progress over time, it does have lifelong implications on the way an individual moves, how much strength they have and their muscle tone.鈥听
Most children with cerebral palsy are born with it, a condition known as congenital cerebral palsy. Abnormal brain development or injury prior to birth causes congenital cerebral palsy. Rarely, cerebral palsy is acquired, meaning it develops after birth. The development can occur due to infection or injury. Although we understand why cerebral palsy occurs, the cause of the abnormal brain development or injury that leads to it is, in many cases, unknown.听
Who鈥檚 at Risk?听听
Several factors can increase your child鈥檚 risk for cerebral palsy, including:听
- 听
- Being born feet first鈥攌nown as breech position鈥攊nstead of headfirst听
- Being born premature or with a low birthweight听
- Complex labor and delivery听
- 听
- 听
- Traumatic injury听
- Twins, triplets or other multiple births听
Your health during pregnancy can also affect your child鈥檚 risk of cerebral palsy. Certain infections, such as rubella or herpes, during pregnancy can increase the risk of your child having cerebral palsy, as can exposure to toxic substances. You鈥檙e more likely to give birth to a child with cerebral palsy if you have a thyroid problem, seizures, a cognitive disability or too much protein in your urine.听
Wide-Ranging Symptoms听听
Cerebral palsy can cause various symptoms, depending on your child鈥檚 age. Cerebral palsy itself doesn鈥檛 worsen with age, but some symptoms may become more prominent.听
鈥淪ome of the earliest signs of cerebral palsy that can generally be detected within the first year of life, can include abnormal muscle tone,鈥 Dr. Jones says. 鈥淭his can be either high muscle tone, meaning a child is very tight or stiff, or low muscle tone, where a child is relatively looser or floppy. There may be a different quality of their movements, shakiness or jerkiness. And even though a child may sometimes meet , there鈥檚 not quite the same quality of movement that we would like to see.鈥听
Other symptoms you may see include:听
- Abnormal gait听
- Arm or leg weakness听
- Difficulty speaking or swallowing听
- Difficulty with fine motor skills needed for activities such as writing and using eating utensils听
- Excessive drooling听
- Involuntary movements听
- Poor muscle coordination听
Four Types of Cerebral Palsy听
Many people with cerebral palsy have spastic cerebral palsy. This type causes muscle stiffness that can affect different areas of the body, including the legs, arms or one side of the body.听
Less-common types of cerebral palsy include:听
- Ataxic cerebral palsy. People with ataxic cerebral palsy may struggle with balance, coordination and precise movements.听
- Dyskinetic cerebral palsy. This type causes uncontrollable limb movements. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy can also affect the face and tongue.听
- Mixed cerebral palsy. This is when people have symptoms of multiple types of cerebral palsy.听
Treating Cerebral Palsy Takes a Team听
鈥淲hile we know there is no cure for cerebral palsy鈥攊t is permanent and a lifelong condition that we treat鈥攖here is a lot that can be done,鈥 Dr. Jones says. 鈥淎nd early detection and intervention allow us to identify any changes or abnormalities in the way a child is moving and to implement services immediately.鈥听
If you notice cerebral palsy-like symptoms, tell your child鈥檚 pediatrician. They may refer your child to a pediatric neurologist to find out if the symptoms are due to cerebral palsy or something else. Dr. Jones says your child鈥檚 medical team may also include a specialist in pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation鈥攌nown as a physiatrist鈥攁nd a pediatric orthopedic surgeon.听
The medical team will collaborate to create a treatment plan based on your child鈥檚 symptoms, type of cerebral palsy, abilities and goals. Early treatment may increase the chance of your child successfully adapting to and overcoming the challenges of cerebral palsy. Encouragingly, with early, personalized treatment, many children enjoy a great quality of life moving forward.听
Your child鈥檚 cerebral palsy treatment may include:听
- Assistive devices. A variety of equipment and technologies are available to help children navigate life with cerebral palsy. Braces and splints, for example, can help with walking. Special computer software and voice devices can make communication easier. Children who struggle with mobility may need a walker or wheelchair to help them get around. Other children may need glasses or hearing aids.听
- Medications. Your child may need medications to treat muscle stiffness.听
- Rehabilitation therapy. Physical therapy helps children strengthen their muscles and improve balance and coordination. Occupational therapy teaches children adaptive ways to dress themselves and perform other everyday tasks. Children who have difficulty with speaking or swallowing may benefit from speech-language therapy.听
- Surgery. Not every child with cerebral palsy needs surgery. However, some may benefit from procedures to improve their gait or treat , which is a common complication of cerebral palsy.听
鈥淭he most important thing that families should know is that cerebral palsy, while it does affect a child for their life, it does not mean that they have a lesser quality of life and does not mean that they won鈥檛 necessarily be able to do certain things,鈥 Dr. Jones says. 鈥淥ur goal in rehabilitation medicine is to really help open the door to children still being able to have a fulfilling and fun life, albeit adapting it and finding ways to meet the child where they are and meeting their specific goals.鈥听
Find a physician who can help you and your child create a plan to treat cerebral palsy.听听