CHILDREN AND ADULT DISABILITY
AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
What is cerebral palsy? Cerebral palsy is a term used to describe a group of chronic conditions affecting body movement and muscle coordination. It is caused by damage to one or more specific areas of the brain, usually occurring during fetal development; before, during or shortly following birth; or during infancy. "Cerebral" refers to the brain and "palsy" to muscle weakness or poor coordination which is often but not always a symptom. Cerebral palsy itself is not progressive (i.e., it does not get worse); however, secondary conditions can develop which may get better over time, get worse, or remain the same. Cerebral palsy is not communicable. It is not a disease and should never be referred to as such. |
What are the effects? Cerebral palsy is characterized by an inability to fully control motor function, particularly muscle control and coordination. Depending on which areas of the brain have been damaged, one or more of the following may occur: muscle tightness or spasm; involuntary movement; disturbance in gait and mobility; abnormal sensation and perception; impairment of sight, hearing or speech; seizures; and mental retardation. Because of these, other problems may arise, such as difficulties in feeding, bladder and bowel control, problems with breathing because of postural difficulties, skin disorders because of pressure sores, and learning disabilities. |
What are the causes? Any damage to the brain, whether caused by genetic or developmental disorders, injury or disease, may produce cerebral palsy. One important cause is an insufficient amount of oxygen reaching the fetal or newborn brain. Oxygen supply can be interrupted by premature separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus, awkward birth position of the baby, labor that is too long or too abrupt, or interference with circulation in the umbilical cord. Premature birth, low birth weight, Rh or A-B-O blood type incompatibility between mother and infant, infection of the mother with German measles or other virus diseases in early pregnancy, and micro-organisms that attack the infant’s central nervous system also are risk factors for cerebral palsy. Most causes of cerebral palsy are related to the developmental and childbearing processes and, since the condition is not inherited, the condition is often congenital cerebral palsy. A less common type is acquired cerebral palsy; head injury is the most frequent cause, usually the result of motor vehicle accidents, falls, or child abuse; another cause is brain infection. |
Are there different types of cerebral palsy? There are three main types: spastic – stiff and difficult movement; athetoid – involuntary and uncontrolled movement; ataxic – disturbed sense of balance and depth perception. There may be a mixture of these types for any individual. Other types do occur, although infrequently. Cerebral palsy can be severe, such as total inability to control body movements, or mild, such as a slight speech impairment. |
Can it be prevented? Yes. Measures of prevention are increasingly possible today. Pregnant women are tested routinely for the Rh factor and, if Rh negative, they can be immunized within 72 hours after the birth (or after pregnancy terminates) and thereby prevent adverse consequences of blood incompatibility in a subsequent pregnancy. If the woman has not been immunized, the consequence of blood incomparability in the newborn can be prevented by exchange transfusion in the baby. If a newborn baby has jaundice, this can be treated by phototherapy in the hospital nursery. Other preventive programs are directed toward reducing exposure of pregnant women to virus and other infections; unnecessary exposure to X-rays, drugs and medications; and the control of diabetes, anemia and other nutritional deficiencies. Of great importance are optimal well-being prior to conception, adequate prenatal care and protecting children from accident or injury. |