What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a disorder that affects movement and muscle tone. This disorder is most often caused before birth by damage to an immature developing brain. The signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy appear during infancy or preschool years. Cerebral palsy can affect movement, speech, eating, and development.

 

Symptoms

• Tremors or jerky involuntary movements
• Delayed speech development
• Motor skill delays
• Slow writhing movements
• Excessive drooling and problems swallowing
• Delayed growth
• Learning and intellectual disabilities

 

A person diagnosed with cerebral palsy may suffer from complications like malnutrition, osteoarthritis, contracture, osteoporosis, and heart and lung disease. Cerebral palsy can be caused by head trauma. An easy way to keep your child safe and reduce the risk is to practice general safety by using a car seat, wearing a bike helmet, or bed safety rails.

 

Additional Resources:

• Pediatrics Plus offers Therapy Services to help remediate deficits in speech or feeding skills that might occur due to cerebral palsy.
• The Cerebral Palsy Research Network offers a free download of the Cerebral Palsy Tool Kit and the Wellbeing for Parents and Caregivers Guide Book.
• The Cerebral Palsy Foundation launched a Cerebral Palsy Resource site to provide helpful information and other resources.

 

References for the article include mayoclinic.org.