Cereberal Palsy And Its Treatment

By Author: Kirthy shetty
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Cerebral Palsy is a general term for a variety of disorders caused by damage to the brain. The damage occurs before or during birth or in the first few years of life. The brain damage may cause severe crippling or total paralysis, or the symptoms may be so mild that they hardly interfere with the patient’s activities. There are several types of Cerebral Palsy, and all of them involve loss of muscle control. Common effects of the disorder include a clumsy walk, loss of balance, shaking, jerky movements, and unclear speech. In many patients, the brain damage may also cause mental retardation, learning disability, seizures, and problems in sight and hearing. A definitive diagnosis of cerebral palsy may not be made until the child is one and two years old. About half to
one percent of the people in the world have cerebral palsy.

In most cases, the causes of faulty growth of the brain that result in cerebral palsy cannot be determined. In some cases, however, brain damage may result from illness in the mother during pregnancy. Cerebral palsy may also occur if the mother is severely malnourished during pregnancy. Brain ...
... damage may also occur during the birth, especially if the birth is a premature one. In babies born after the normal term of pregnancy, brain damage may occur if there is a significant period of hypoxia (lack of oxygen) causing the brain cells to die. After birth, a baby may develop cerebral palsy if disease or injury damages the brain. During the first year of life, infections and accidental head injuries are the most frequent causes of the condition.

Treatment of cerebral palsy is aimed at preventing the patient’s disabilities from worsening and helping the child use his or her abilities to the best of their advantage. Each type of cerebral palsy requires a different therapy, each patient requires individual care. Most victims of cerebral palsy can be helped by physiotherapy. If possible, the patient learns to maintain balance and to move around unaided. The patient may develop such basic skills as dressing, eating and toilet care.

A child with cerebral palsy may face the task of conquering the problems of speech, sight, and hearing that could interfere with other learning. Speech therapy, glasses and hearing aids may solve or rather, minimize some of these problems. The child can learn to communicate in order to continue education. The parents must decide what type of school setting is best for their child. Many victims of cerebral palsy benefit from integrating into the ordinary school system. Later on in life, the child may receive training that can help in finding a suitable job.

Doctors may prescribe drugs for cerebral palsy patients to relax muscles and to control their convulsions. Braces and other mechanical devices provide support and help the victim walk. In some cases, a surgical operation called “selective posterior rhizotomy” can reduce the rigidity of spastic muscles. In this operation, the surgeon cuts selected nerve fibres in the spinal cord.

The future of cerebral palsy victims depends largely on the extent of their mental and physical disabilities. Psychological support for the victims and their families is very important. Many people who suffer from cerebral palsy lead normal lives, and if given the proper moral and emotional support, can be happy and productive members of the society.

Kirthy shetty, Ezine Articles Expert Author.For more information: Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
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