How Serious Is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a term used to describe a group of disorders that affect muscles, movement and motor skills. These disorders do not get worse as the child gets older. Brain damage sustained during the child's first months or years of life can result in cerebral palsy. The damage occurs in areas of the brain that are responsible for movement and posture. Causes include bacterial meningitis, viral encephalitis or head trauma from a fall or a motor vehicle accident. An infant who is shaken suffers severe injuries to the brain. Another possible cause of cerebral palsy may be complications during pregnancy or birth that deprive the newborn of oxygen, blood or nutrients. Developmental abnormalities in the brain can also lead to a lifetime of permanent disabilities. Even more frustrating to parents is that sometimes a cause cannot be found.

There are many signs that can indicate cerebral palsy, and they vary with each child. Depending on the severity of the brain damage, signs may be obvious or subtle. Symptoms of cerebral palsy are often seen before the age of 2. In severe cases, symptoms begin to show around 3 months. A child normally has important developmental milestones during the first 18 months of life such as rolling over, sitting up, crawling and walking. A child with cerebral palsy will reach these milestones more slowly due to his motor impairments. An infant may have trouble sucking and swallowing. Abnormal muscle tone can give the body a very floppy and relaxed appearance. Or the infant may have very rigid and stiff muscles. Leg muscles that are spastic can cause the infant to cross his legs like a scissors. He may have abnormal movements that can be clumsy or jerky. He may also have abnormal posture and involuntary movements.

There are different types of cerebral palsy. The majority of children are diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy. This type causes jerky and awkward movements because the muscles are stiff. Spastic cerebral palsy can be classified further by the parts of the body that are affected such as spastic hemiplegia (one side of the body) or spastic quadriplegia (the entire body). Spastic cerebral palsy makes walking difficult, and movements are stiff. Changing positions and holding objects is hard. Athetoid or dyskinetic cerebral palsy causes uncontrolled movements in the face, arms, and trunk. These movements may increase when the child is under stress and may decrease or disappear during sleep. The child may have problems sitting and walking. Ataxic cerebral palsy makes a child appear very unsteady. This is a rare type that affects balance and depth perception. The affected child may walk unsteadily with her feet placed far apart. Daily tasks take longer than normal to complete. Mixed type cerebral palsy is a combination of the other types of cerebral palsy. Frequently diagnosed is a mixed form of spasticity and athetoid cerebral palsy.

Many children who have cerebral palsy suffer other health problems. Lesions in the brain can cause seizures or epilepsy to develop. Learning disabilities, mental retardation and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder may become obvious as the child grows older. Some children with cerebral palsy have perfectly normal or even above average intelligence. A child may have a lack of coordination in the eye muscles, known as strabismus. This condition can cause vision impairments because the eyes cannot focus properly. A child may have complete or partial hearing loss. Scoliosis and a shortening of the affected leg or arm can occur. Dental problems are common because children with cerebral palsy can have enamel deficiencies or difficulty brushing their teeth. Medical checkups are necessary to catch any signs of health problems as early as possible.

The disabilities that cerebral palsy brings last a lifetime. Parents should be offered information that will help them understand their child's condition. A child may have chronic physical health issues throughout his life such as joint problems, chronic back pain, lethargy and spinal deformities. Depending on the level of brain damage, the child may become severely disabled. A child will benefit greatly from physical therapy and occupational therapy. Braces can help control muscles and make walking easier. A wheelchair should be used when walking is too difficult. Rehabilitation that includes stretching will help to maintain joint flexibility and to keep muscles healthy. It is crucial that rehabilitation be started as early as possible. A child should be enrolled in counseling because he may feel depressed or angry about cerebral palsy. Goals should be set for a child that he is capable of reaching, even if it means pushing his limitations. If the child has normal cognitive abilities, he should be treated like any other child. No one can say what the true potential of a child with cerebral palsy may be.