Cerebal Palsey Guide

CEREBRAL PALSEY OVERVIEW

There are many different people in the world who suffer from cerebral palsey every year.

What is Cerebral Palsey?

Cerebral palsey is a group of nerve-related conditions which can, when put altogether, negatively affect us in a physical manner and lasts for a long time. It’s clearer when you look at each word separately, “cerebral” refers to the brain and “palsey” refers to the disorderly movement caused by problems to the “cerebral”.

Why does Cerebral Palsey exist?

There may be many causes of cerebral palsey, and these reasons all result in damage to a various parts of the brain. These parts of the brain control voluntary movement in us (such as picking up a pencil). Contrast this to reflex movement, which is out of our control (such as flexing away when we accidently touch a hot kettle).

Damage to the brain could be caused by anything, but the most common reasons for the emergence of cerebral palsey usually are caused by circumstances surrounding the development of the fetus while still in the mother’s womb, or trauma to the head of a child. Once that part of the brain is damage, it loses its ability to send appropriate messages to the rest of the body’s muscles.

On the outset, a person may appear to lose only his or her ability to maintain proper posture (standing, sitting). However, he or she loses much more than that. The things that ordinary folk take for granted, for example, talking fluently and effortlessly, or even paying attention or sitting still, do not always come so easily to sufferers of cerebral palsey.

What is Cerebral Palsey NOT?

Cerebral palsey is not contagious; it does not spread through the air or by using the same eating utensils. It happens because of damage to certain parts of the brain. That said, it is not a condition which can be inherited, and neither is it a progressive (gets worse over time) condition. Once a person is confirmed as having cerebral palsey, it’s there. What people usually seek to concern themselves with is the treatment of related conditions that arise from cerebral palsey.

Can cerebral palsey be fully cured?

At this point in time, no. Although research is in progress, the best approach is still to prevent cerebral palsey altogether. If you know someone who has cerebral palsey, the best that can be done for now is to treat and minimise the effects of disorders that “go hand-in-hand” with cerebral palsey.

What do statistics on Cerebral Palsey look like?

For every 1,000 live births, there are 2 babies born who will be diagnosed with cerebral palsey. Of those diagnosed with cerebral palsey, it is estimated that 75% developed the condition while still in the mother’s womb, 5% during birth and 15% after birth and during the first few years of life. Males tend to exceed females in the ratio of 1.33:1.00. Countrywide, (in the U.S.), 10,000 babies are diagnosed with cerebral palsey every year. This figure adds to the 1 million or so already existing Americans diagnosed with the condition.

Will the figures improve?

Methods of caring for newborns are improving, meaning falling numbers of healthy babies having cerebral palsey. However, babies who are born premature or underweight tend to have higher chances of having cerebral palsey.

How many types of cerebral palsy are there?

Cerebral palsey is called by different names, depending on the type of movement it impairs:

• Spastic cerebral palsy

Spastic cerebral palsey is characterized by permanently contracting muscles which stiffen the limbs of the sufferer. It is the most common form of cerebral palsey, comprising roughly 50 – 75% of all cerebral palsey cases.

• Athetoid cerebral palsy

Athetoid cerebral palsey, also called dyskinetic cerebral palsey, is characterized by slow writhing movement which is beyond the control of the sufferer. About 10 – 20% of cerebral palsey cases are of the athetoid variety.

• Ataxic cerebral palsy

Ataxic cerebral palsy symptoms include poor co-ordination, balance when walking and depth of perception. You will be able to recognize them by the way they walk with their feet far apart for balance. About 5 – 10% of cerebral palsey cases are ataxic.

• Mixed cerebral palsey

Unfortunately, cerebral palsey is not limited to the 3 major types above. A sufferer may be diagnosed as having at least 2 of the above types, which give rise to the name “mixed” cerebral palsey. Approximately 10% of cerebral palsey sufferers have it mixed. 

You may also be interested in:

• Cerebal Palsey Overview
• Cerebral Palsy Symptoms And Signs
• Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
• Cerebral Palsy Prognosis
• How Do You Prevent Cerebral Palsy?
• Cerebral Palsy Surgery
• Medication for Cerebral Palsey
• Cerebral Palsey Treatment
• Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis
• Complications of Cerebral Palsey

Tags: Ataxic Cerebral Palsy | Athetoid Cerebral Palsy | Cerabal Palsey | Cerabal Palsy | cerbral palsy | cerebal palsey | cerebral palsey | Cerebral Plasy | Spastic Cerebral Palsy | Types of Cerebral Palsy | What is Cerebal Palsey | What is Cerebral Palsey

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