Cerebral PalsyCerebral Palsy

By Devan BurnsBy Devan Burns

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DefinitionDefinition

““A motor disability evident early in A motor disability evident early in life (often by one year of age and life (often by one year of age and certainly by age two) that is caused certainly by age two) that is caused by a brain abnormality present by by a brain abnormality present by the end of the newborn period (one the end of the newborn period (one month of age) and unchanged after month of age) and unchanged after that time.”that time.”

Robert J. Baumann, M.D. Robert J. Baumann, M.D.

Typical Characteristics Typical Characteristics ““a lack of normal control of movements. While problems a lack of normal control of movements. While problems

with making normal movements may be apparent at birth, with making normal movements may be apparent at birth, this symptom is often not noticeable until the child is nine this symptom is often not noticeable until the child is nine or ten months of age; on occasion, it may not be apparent or ten months of age; on occasion, it may not be apparent before eighteen or twenty-four months of age because the before eighteen or twenty-four months of age because the areas of the brain that control movement are immature and areas of the brain that control movement are immature and not very effective early in life. Until the child reaches an not very effective early in life. Until the child reaches an age at which these areas are functional, a lack of function age at which these areas are functional, a lack of function may go unrecognized.”may go unrecognized.”

Robert J. Baumann, M.D. Robert J. Baumann, M.D.

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Possible Life long impacts or Possible Life long impacts or effectseffects

““Cerebral palsy does not necessarily include Cerebral palsy does not necessarily include mental retardationmental retardation; many children affected with ; many children affected with cerebral palsy are mentally competent. However, cerebral palsy are mentally competent. However, any cerebral disorder in early life may result in any cerebral disorder in early life may result in impairment, sometimes severe, of intellectual impairment, sometimes severe, of intellectual and emotional development. and emotional development. EpilepticEpileptic attacks in attacks in the form of convulsive seizures, especially in the the form of convulsive seizures, especially in the parts of the body affected by paralysis, occur in parts of the body affected by paralysis, occur in many children with cerebral palsy. In the spastic many children with cerebral palsy. In the spastic type of cerebral palsy, mental retardation and type of cerebral palsy, mental retardation and epileptic attacks are particularly frequent.”epileptic attacks are particularly frequent.”

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Living assistance/care Living assistance/care needed needed

““Only in unusual circumstances is there Only in unusual circumstances is there any direct treatment available for the any direct treatment available for the brain abnormality that causes the motor brain abnormality that causes the motor disability of cerebral palsy. On the other disability of cerebral palsy. On the other hand, a variety of resources are available hand, a variety of resources are available for helping the child cope with motor for helping the child cope with motor problems. Physical aids such as problems. Physical aids such as wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches have wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches have long been available.”long been available.”

Robert J. Baumann, M.D Robert J. Baumann, M.D

How 'I" can help improve the How 'I" can help improve the life of someone with the life of someone with the

disability disability n this surgical procedure performed n this surgical procedure performed

on the lower back, some of the on the lower back, some of the sensory (posterior) innervating sensory (posterior) innervating nerves to the leg muscles are nerves to the leg muscles are severed. The procedure can produce severed. The procedure can produce some some postoperativepostoperative sensory loss, sensory loss, which usually disappears. which usually disappears.

Robert J. Baumann, M.DRobert J. Baumann, M.D

The End The End

Work CitedWork Cited

Baumann, Robert J. "Cerebral palsy." Baumann, Robert J. "Cerebral palsy." Magill’s Medical Guide, Sixth EditionMagill’s Medical Guide, Sixth Edition. Ed. . Ed. Tracy Irons-Georges, 6th ed. 6 vols. Tracy Irons-Georges, 6th ed. 6 vols. Pasadena, Calif.: Salem Press, 2010. Pasadena, Calif.: Salem Press, 2010. Salem HealthSalem Health Web. 07 Apr. 2011. Web. 07 Apr. 2011.

http://health.salempress.com/doi/full/10.33http://health.salempress.com/doi/full/10.3331/MMG06_11951351163?prevSearch=cer31/MMG06_11951351163?prevSearch=cerebral%2Bpalsy&searchHistoryKey=&queryebral%2Bpalsy&searchHistoryKey=&queryHash=b6ab539cbb9876cba5bea65d9aea3Hash=b6ab539cbb9876cba5bea65d9aea33b93b9

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photo credits photo credits

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