Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. CP is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain before, during or after birth that affects a person’s ability to control his or her muscles.

CP is classified according to the main type of movement disorder involved. Depending on which areas of the brain are affected, one or more of the following movement disorders can occur:

• Stiff muscles (spasticity)
• Uncontrollable movements (dyskinesia)
• Poor balance and coordination (ataxia)

There are four main types of CP:

1. Spastic Cerebral Palsy
2. Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy (also includes athetoid, choreoathetoid, and dystonic cerebral palsies)
3. Ataxic Cerebral Palsy
4. Mixed Cerebral Palsy

The main sign that a child might have CP is a delay reaching motor or movement milestones (such as rolling over, sitting, standing, or walking). Following are some other signs of possible CP. It is important to note that some children without CP also might have some of these signs.

In a Baby Younger Than 6 Months of Age

• His head lags when you pick him up while he’s lying on his back
• He feels stiff
• He feels floppy
• When held cradled in your arms, he seems to overextend his back and neck, constantly acting as if he is pushing away from you
• When you pick him up, his legs get stiff and they cross or scissor

In a Baby Older Than 6 Months of Age

• She doesn’t roll over in either direction
• She cannot bring her hands together
• She has difficulty bringing her hands to her mouth
• She reaches out with only one hand while keeping the other fisted

In a Baby Older Than 10 Months of Age

• He crawls in a lopsided manner, pushing off with one hand and leg while dragging the opposite hand and leg
• He scoots around on his buttocks or hops on his knees, but does not crawl on all fours

Diagnosing CP at an early age is important to the well-being of children and their families. Diagnosing CP can take several steps:

Developmental Monitoring

Developmental monitoring (also called surveillance) means tracking a child’s growth and development over time. If any concerns about the child’s development are raised during monitoring, then a developmental screening test should be given as soon as possible.

Developmental Screening

During developmental screening a short test is given to see if the child has specific developmental delays, such as motor or movement delays. If the results of the screening test are cause for concern, then the doctor will make referrals for developmental and medical evaluations.

Developmental and Medical Evaluations

The goal of a developmental evaluation is to diagnose the specific type of disorder that affects a child.

There is no cure for CP, but treatment can improve the lives of those who have the condition. It is important to begin a treatment program as early as possible.

After a CP diagnosis is made, a team of doctors (Physiatrists, orthopaedic, neurologists) works with the child and family to develop a plan to help the child reach his or her full potential.
Common treatments include medicines; Botulinum toxin injection: surgery; braces; and physical, occupational, and speech therapy. No single treatment is the best one for all children with CP. Before deciding on a treatment plan, it is important to talk with the child’s doctor to understand all the risks and benefits.