What is cerebral palsy?
Cerebral palsy (CP) describes a group of chronic conditions affecting body movement and muscle coordination. Its effects may range from mild to severe and (depending on other brain damage that might be present) the condition may or may not be associated with other disabilities, most commonly intellectual disability and/or seizure, vision, hearing, and communication disorders. CP is caused by damage to one or more specific areas of the brain, usually occurring during fetal development; before, during or after birth; or during infancy. The faulty development or damage to motor areas of the brain disrupts the brains normal ability to adequately control movement and posture. CP is not a disease and it is not curable, but its impact can be managed in positive ways.
Cerebral palsy is primarily a disorder of voluntary movement and co-ordination, due to a defect or lesion of the immature brain. It is an umbrella term covering a group of non-progressive, though not unchanging, motor impairment conditions, which range from multiple and profound to barely detectable. There are three main types: • Spastic cerebral palsy refers to increased muscle tone or hypertonia. • Ataxic cerebral palsy refers to disordered movements characterised by short and jerky movements. Often muscle tone is normal or decreased. • Dyskinetic cerebral palsy usually comprises slow writhing movements where muscle tone fluctuates between increased and decreased tone.
Cerebral palsy is a group of conditions that result in limited or abnormal functioning in the parts of the brain that control movement. Cerebral palsy usually is caused by brain injury before or during birth. However, brain damage or injury at any time in life can have the same effect. People with cerebral palsy primarily have difficulty with muscular coordination. They also may have seizures or are unable to see, speak, hear, or learn as other persons do. Severe speech problems are common, sometimes leading others to make the mistake of thinking that people with cerebral palsy have mental retardation. This often is not true. Treatments for cerebral palsy include physical, occupational, and speech/language therapy by skilled professionals. In-home and out-of-home residential services are also available. About 24,000 New York residents have cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy is a medical condition caused by a permanent brain injury that occurs before, during, or shortly after birth. The effect of cerebral palsy is characterized by lack of muscle control and body movement. The cerebral palsy diagnosis is usually made shortly after birth, but may show up later in childhood.
