subject: Problems Related To Cerebral Palsy [print this page] Cerebral palsy, also known as CP, is a disorder of movement and posture that is not progressive in nature. It is caused by an injury or a defect or lesion in the developing brain of a fetus, newborn of infant. It is one of the most common disorders of childhood. While there is no cure for cerebral palsy, treatments are available to help patients cope with their disability. Therapy, medicines, special equipment, and in some cases, surgery can all help patients with cerebral palsy.
Although cerebral palsy primarily affects muscle tone, movement and motor skills it can also cause other problems. Some of these problems are health issues, such as vision, hearing or speech problems, and learning disabilities. These problems and disabilities can range from mild to severe. The severity of the problems is related to the severity of the brain damage. Muscles can be very stiff or very floppy and limbs may be held in unusual and awkward positions. Movements may be jerky or slow and they appear uncontrolled and without purpose.
People with a certain type of CP called spastic cerebral palsy may develop severe stiffening of the joints. This is caused because of unequal pressures on the joints exerted by muscles that are different tones or strengths. Some children with cerebral palsy are affected by mental retardation. About one third of all cerebral palsy patients experience seizures. These may appear early in life or years after the brain damage. Physical signs of a seizure may be difficult to notice due to the fact that they might be hidden by the abnormal movements made by a person with cerebral palsy.
Some individuals with cerebral palsy are unable to control the muscles of the tongue, mouth and throat. Due to the fact that these muscles partially control speech, patients that experience these muscle problems have difficulty speaking normally. CP patients may also experience hearing loss and dental problems. Vision problems are typical in three quarters of cases due to the weakness of the muscles that control eye movement.
Cerebral palsy patients may experience any or all of these symptoms, especially at different stages of their life. All symptoms should be monitored and reported to a doctor.
