Cerebral Palsy Rebecca Roy

REH 277Douglas Dunlap

Fall 2009

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Outline

What is it?› Population› Prevalence & Course› Diagnostic Criteria › Differential Diagnostic

Intervention › Treatment

Information and Advocacy Works cited

Nature of Disability Group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move and to

maintain balance and posture

Wide variety of signs and symptoms, ranging from mild to severe.

Cerebral palsy is classified into four broad categories: Spastic, Athetoid (or dyskinetic), Ataxic, and Mixed.

› Spastic cerebral palsy affects 70 to 80 percent of patients and is characterized by stiff or permanently contracted muscles

› Athetoid cerebral palsy affects 10 to 20 percent of patients and is characterized by uncontrolled, slow, writhing movements

› Ataxic cerebral palsy is a rare form that affects 5 to 10 percent of patients. This form of cerebral palsy affects the sense of depth and perception and results in poor coordination and difficulty with quick or precise movements .

› Mixed cerebral palsy occurs when a patient has symptoms of two or more of these forms. Many combinations are possible, but the most common mixed form is a blend of the spastic and athetoid forms .

Cerebral Palsy Source

Caused by injuries or abnormalities of the brain.

Most of these problems occur as the baby grows in the womb,

Can happen at any time during the first 2 years of life, while the baby's brain is still developing. (Medline)

Population The United Cerebral Palsy Associations estimate that

more than 500,000 Americans have Cerebral Palsy.

In the United States,10 to 20 percent of the children acquire the disorder after birth (Cerebral Palsy Source)

The U.S. exceeds 750,000.

Currently there are more than 160,000 children with cerebral palsy

More than 10,000 new cases occur each year. (Cerebral Palsy

Magazine)

Prevalence & Course Most of these problems occur as the baby

grows in the womb

They can happen at any time during the first 2 years of life, while the baby's brain is still developing.

About 2-3 children per 1,000 have cerebral palsy

Severe cerebral palsy might be unable to walk and need extensive, lifelong care

Prognosis Cerebral palsy is a lifelong disorder

Does not affect expected length of life(Medline)

Many adults are able to live in the community, either independently or with different levels of help.

Severe cerebral palsy might be unable to walk and need extensive, lifelong care

Mild cerebral palsy might be only slightly awkward and require no special assistance. (NINDS)

Diagnostic Criteria Test an infant’s motor skills

Look carefully at the infant’s medical history

Check for slow development, abnormal muscle tone, and unusual posture

Medical tests MRIs, CTs, and ultrasounds to look at pictures of the infant’s brain› Reflex Test› Hand Preference Test

(4mychild)

Differential Diagnosis

Linked to a variety of infectious diseases

Congenital abnormalities

Strokes

Severe jaundice› Common in newborns, severe cases of

untreated jaundice can harm the brain permanently and may result in cerebral palsy.

Mayo Clinic

Intervention Cerebral palsy can’t be cured

Treatment will often improve a child's capabilities.  

Treatment may include› Physical and occupational therapy› Speech therapy› Drugs to control seizures› Relax muscle spasms› Alleviate pain

Surgery to correct anatomical abnormalities or release tight muscles; › braces and other orthotic devices; wheelchairs and rolling

walkers; and communication aids such as computers with attached voice synthesizers. 

NINDS

Professional Associations

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke › http://

www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cerebral_palsy/cerebral_palsy.htm

Cerebral Palsy Source› http://

www.cerebralpalsysource.com/About_CP/index.html

United Cerebral Palsy › http://www.ucp.org/

Consumer & Family Associations

4MyChild Help and Hope for Life› http://www.cerebralpalsy.org/what-is-cerebr

al-palsy/diagnosis/

› 1-800-4MyChild (1-800-469-2445)

Cerebral Palsy Family Support Network› http://www.cpfsn.org/

Professional Journals

Cerebral Palsy Magazine

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology

American Journal Of Epidemiology

Works Cited Brody , J. (2005). Cerebral palsy source . Retrieved from

http://www.cerebralpalsysource.com/About_CP/index.html

Hoch, D. (2009, September 16). Cerebral palsy . Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000716.htm

Koscielny, I. (2009, September). Cerebral palsy magazine. Retrieved from http://www.cerebralpalsymagazine.com/

(2009, November 14). Cerebral palsy . Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cerebral-palsy/DS00302

(2009, October 30). Ninds cerebral palsy information page. Retrieved from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cerebral_palsy/cerebral_palsy.htm#What_is_the_prognosis

(2009, November 1). 4mychild help and hope for life. Retrieved from http://www.cerebralpalsy.org/what-is-cerebral-palsy/