cerebral palsy? (20 characters ugh...)?
What diffrent types are there??? How common is it??? What's a good website on it??? What causes it??? Any other facts you know about it???

Posted by mared
My friends eldest has cerebral palsy. Very slow learner, poor advancement. Cannot walk until the age of 5. Poor speech. Undergoing therapy for 7 years now. Happy new year

Posted by Mary
Cerebral palsy: An abnormality of motor function (the ability to move and control movements) that is acquired at an early age, usually less than a year of age, and is due to a brain lesion that is non-progressive. Cerebral palsy (CP) is frequently the result of abnormalities that occur in utero, while the fetus is developing inside the mother's womb. Such abnormalities may include accidents of brain development, genetic disorders, stroke due to abnormal blood vessels or blood clots, or infection of the brain. In rare instances, obstetrical accidents during particularly difficult deliveries can cause brain damage and result in CP.

There are three main types of cerebral palsy:

Spastic Cerebral Palsy
(stiff and difficult movement)


Athetoid Cerebral Palsy
(involuntary and uncontrolled movement)


Ataxic Cerebral Palsy
(disturbed sense of balance and depth perception)


Mixed Cerebral Palsy
There may be a combination of these types for any one person.

Spastic CP is further classified by topography dependent on the region of the body affected; these include:

Spastic hemiplegia (one side being affected). Generally, injury to the left side of the brain will cause a right body deficit, and vice versa. Typically, people that suffer from this type of cerebral palsy are the most ambulatory, although they generally have dynamic equinus on the affected side and are primarily prescribed ankle-foot orthoses to prevent said equinus.[10]
Spastic diplegia (the lower extremities are affected more than the upper extremities). Most people with disabled diplegia do eventually walk. The gait of a person with Cerebral Palsy diplegia is typically characterised by a crouched gait. Toe walking and flexed knees are common. Hip problems, dislocations, and side effects like strabismus (crossed eyes) are common. Strabismus affects three quarters of people with spastic diplegia. This is due to weakness of the muscles that control eye movement. In addition, these individuals are often nearsighted. In many cases the intelligence of a person with spastic diplegia is unaffected by the condition.
Spastic quadriplegia (Whole body affected; all four limbs affected equally). Some children with quadriplegia also have hemiparetic tremors; an uncontrollable shaking that affects the limbs on one side of the body and impairs normal movement. A common problem for children with quadriplegia is fluid buildup. Diuretics and steroids are medications administered to decrease any buildup of fluid in the spine that is caused by leakage from dead cells. Hardened feces in a quadriplegia patient are important to monitor because it can cause high blood pressure. Autonomic dysreflexia can be caused by hardened feces, urinary infections, and other problems, resulting in the overreaction of the nervous system and can result in high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes. Blockage of tubes inserted into the body to drain or enter fluids also needs to be monitored to prevent autonomic dysreflexia in quadriplegia. The proper functioning of the digestive system needs to be monitored as well.
Occasionally, terms such as monoplegia, paraplegia, triplegia, and pentaplegia may also be used to refer to specific manifestations of the spasticity.

Cerebral palsy can't be cured, but treatment will often improve a child's capabilities. Many children go on to enjoy near-normal adult lives if their disabilities are properly managed. In general, the earlier treatment begins the better chance children have of overcoming developmental disabilities or learning new ways to accomplish the tasks that challenge them. Treatment may include physical and occupational therapy, speech therapy, drugs to control seizures, relax muscle spasms, and alleviate pain; surgery to correct anatomical abnormalities or release tight muscles; braces and other orthotic devices; wheelchairs and rolling walkers; and communication aids such as computers with attached voice synthesizers.


What is the prognosis?

Cerebral palsy doesn't always cause profound disabilities. While one child with severe cerebral palsy might be unable to walk and need extensive, lifelong care, another with mild cerebral palsy might be only slightly awkward and require no special assistance.

CP does not equal mental retardation or learning disabilites. It is a motor/neurologic disorder. Some children with CP also have learning issues.

CP is non progressive ie it does not get worse.

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