subject: Taking A Toll On Development: Cerebral Palsy Statistics [print this page] Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term used to describe a group of disorders involving movement, learning, and speech that occur due to problems with brain development. The exact causes for most cases of cerebral palsy are unknown, but many are the result of problems during pregnancy in which the brain is either damaged or doesn't develop normally. Like many disorders, researching cerebral palsy statistics prove that this disorder is more common than once thought, is expensive to treat, and has many common side affects.
Each year, 10,000 babies in the United Sates will be affected by cerebral palsy. Although cerebral palsy occurs before, during, or immediately after birth, most children are not diagnosed with the condition right away. Currently, it is estimated that 800,000 people in the United States are affected by cerebral palsy. These statistics might seem overwhelming, but cerebral palsy estimates from other countries are widely considered to be inaccurate, especially the poor or third world countries.
Perhaps even more staggering than the number of people suffering from cerebral palsy is the financial impact associated with this disorder. In fact, the estimated lifetime cost of cerebral palsy in 2003 was $921,000. This amount does not factor in the cost of emergency room visits, hospital stays, residential care costs, or any of the other cost that will come out of pocket.
As for the side effects, children with cerebral palsy usually suffer from delays when it comes to meeting many of the developmental milestones. These milestones include rolling over, holding their head up, crawling, sitting without assistance, standing with and without support, or walking. In fact, half of the people who have cerebral palsy require the use of assistive devices such as braces, wheelchairs, and walkers to help them in being more mobile. As for children with cerebral palsy, about two-thirds of them will have some kind of mental impairment. Approximately 30% of children who have cerebral palsy will also have seizures. Many children who suffer from cerebral palsy will also need lifetime care in order to perform the day to day functions needed to live a productive life.
