Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a neuromuscular disorder that affects movement, muscle tone, balance and posture (Cerebral Palsy Facts, 2021). The word Cerebral means of or relating to the brain or the intellect, while Palsy is defined as weakness or problems with using the muscles. CP is typically diagnosed during infancy or early childhood and is a lifelong condition, however early detection and intervention can significantly improve outcomes (Understanding Cerebral Palsy, 2021). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021), CP is known to be caused by “abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain that affects a person’s ability to control his or her muscles.” Each case of CP is different, affecting the person in several ways. A person with severe CP might need to use special equipment to be able to walk, or might not be able to walk at all, needing lifelong care. A person with mild CP, on the other hand, might walk a little differently, but might not need any special help. CP does not get progressively worse over time, however the symptoms can change over a person’s lifetime (CDC, 2021). There is currently no known cure for CP, however medication and therapies are used to help alleviate symptoms.
Depending on the child’s stage of development, here are some key words you can use when explaining cerebral palsy to children:
• The brain’s job is to tell the rest of our body exactly what to do and when to do it. When someone has cerebral palsy, the brain has trouble communicating with the muscles. This makes it hard for people with cerebral palsy to walk, talk, or eat. Some people with CP may need to use a wheelchair or crutches.
• Brain – the organ inside your head that controls all the parts of the body
• Muscles – large groups of cells that help your body move
• Cells – building blocks or the basic components of your body
According to United Brain Association, there are four main types of CP known as:
- Spastic Cerebral Palsy – “The most common, affecting more than 70% of patients. This type is characterized by increased muscle tone (hypertonia) and stiff, tight muscles. People with spasticity may not be able to relax their muscles, leading to rigid joints (UBA, 2021).”
- Athetoid Cerebral Palsy (also known as dyskinetic CP)- comprises 10 to 20% of all CP cases. Typically, this form of CP involves slow, uncontrolled body movements and low muscle tone that makes it hard for the person to sit straight and walk.
- Ataxic Cerebral Palsy– “Affecting around 5 to 10 % of patients, this is the least common type of CP. The name comes from the root word “ataxia,” meaning “uncoordinated.” Patients with this type of CP have difficulties with balance and coordination. It is often diagnosed later in life than other types, usually after a child has reached 18 months (UBA, 2021).”
- Mixed Cerebral Palsy – “Because forms of the disorder are caused by injuries to different areas of the brain, some patients may exhibit symptoms of more than one type of CP. The most common combination of symptoms is a blend of athetoid and spastic symptoms. Mixed CP accounts for 10% of all cases (UBA, 2021).”
Cerebral Palsy Facts from The United Brain Association
• Globally, approximately 17 million people have CP.
• Nearly 500,000 children and adults in the United States are affected by CP.
• CP is the most common lifelong physical disability in the world.
• CP often occurs in conjunction with other conditions, such as epilepsy, intellectual disability, vision impairment, and autism spectrum disorder.
Resources
- Websites
• https://www.cerebralpalsy.org/
• https://cpresource.org/
• https://ucpie.org/
• http://www.aacpdm.org/
• https://cprn.org/
• https://worldcpday.org/
• http://www.thearc.org/ - Books
• Ceana Has CP by C Fran Card (ages 3-7)
• Taking Cerebral Palsy to School by Mary Elizabeth Anderson (ages 5 and up)
• Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Parent’s Guide by Elaine Geralis
• The Cerebral Palsy Tool Kit: From Diagnosis to Understanding by Michele P Shusterman
• Kids Beyond Limits: The Anat Baniel Method for Awakening the Brain and Transforming the Life of Your Child With Special Needs by Anat Baniel
• Teaching Motor Skills to Children With Cerebral Palsy And Similar Movement Disorders: A Guide for Parents And Professionals by Sieglinde Martin - Applications
• Choiceworks ($)
• Proloquo2Go ($$$)
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References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2021) What is cerebral palsy? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/cp/facts.html
Cerebral palsy facts. United Brain Association (UBA). (2021) Retrieved from https://unitedbrainassociation.org/brain-resources/cerebral-palsy/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAk4aOBhCTARIsAFWFP9FBOj5H__R1-S4eX70rQjj5ePxRWQSJk4ndVlSJUzD1Amp_MG38YegaAtOYEALw_wcB
Understanding cerebral palsy. Cerebral Palsy Foundation (2021) Retrieved from https://cpresource.org/topic/understanding-cerebral-palsy