The word cerebral means brain and palsy refers to a disorder of movement. So, the term cerebral palsy is used to describe a condition which affects body movements and muscle coordination due to damage of a specific area of brain during or after birth.
Birth complications such as asphyxia, are currently estimated to account for about six percent of patients with congenital cerebral palsy. Neonatal risk factors for cerebral palsy consist of birth after fewer than 32 weeks gestation, birth weight of fewer than 5 lb., 8 oz. (2,500g), and intrauterine development retardation, intracranial hemorrhage, and distress. In about ten to twenty percent of patients, cerebral palsy is attained in postnatal, mostly because of brain damage from bacterial meningitis, viral encephalitis, hyperbilirubinemia, car accidents, falls, or even child abuse.
Cerebral palsy is not curable although some therapies can make the persons able to live their lives in a normal manner. The persons suffering from cerebral palsy are usually unable to control their motor functions. The symptoms include muscle tightness or spasm, automatic movements, disturbance in way of walking and mobility, abnormal sensation and perception, impairment of sight, hearing or speech and seizures. The symptoms differ from person to person depending on which area of brain would be affected.
Assessment is the first step in the diagnosis of cerebral palsy. When we access the child with cerebral play, it is found that the developmental process occurs, but at much slower rate. This means that the child develops the movement skills very slowly. It is related to the neuromotor dysfunction, or delay in the maturation of the nervous system.
The assessment involves the examination of the strength of the child. It is the inspection of the current health status of the child. The medical practitioner checks the motor skills, and compares it with the age of the child. The doctor also examines the slow development, abnormal muscle tone, and unusual posture. Moreover, intellectual capabilities are also assessed to reach the diagnosis of the problem. During the assessment for cerebral palsy, the other disorders causing the defect in the movement are usually ignored.
There are many patterns of motor development, found in the normal child are missing in the child suffering from cerebral palsy. The development is not only slowed down, but also follows an abnormal course. It has been found that in severe case, the whole body is affected.
It is seen that doctors usually take lot of time in diagnosing cerebral palsy because the brain of children has the ability to recover partially or completely after an injury and the child’s nervous system organizes over a period of time. So, the doctors have to assess each and every aspect of the life of child before making the final diagnosis. Some specialized tests, for example computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and intelligence tests are used apart from conducting a review of mother’s pregnancy, labour and delivery. The rate of cerebral palsy can be reduced by taking more care of pregnant women and providing them more facilities during delivery. The treatments of cerebral palsy include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, orthotic devices, speech therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, nutritional counselling, massage therapy, hatha yoga, surgery, cord blood therapy, conductive education, biofeedback and neuro-cognitive therapy etc.
There are many other scales to assess the pace of development. The scales include Paediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory and Functional Independence Measure. These scales involve the assessment, and development of a report, according to the structured interview. The scale measures the speed of development based on amount of help required by the child. After the assessment, the doctor may ask for the tests such as MRI or CAT scan, before reaching any conclusion.
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