Cerebral Palsy

Articles

Oct 1

On October 6, we observe World Cerebral Palsy Day. Across the world, over 17 million individuals feel the impact of this disorder. Primarily affecting children, cerebral palsy can occur all throughout a child’s lifespan and there is currently no cure for this disorder. Cerebral palsy can have a significant impact on an individual’s physical ability to speak, walk, or control movement. We can all join in and promote more inclusion for individuals with cerebral palsy. There are many ways to raise awareness about this disorder which affects so many individuals globally.

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Affecting an individual’s ability to control and engage in movement, cerebral palsy is typically the result of damage to the brain while in development. Before birth, damage to the brain can manifest in many ways, particularly affecting the ability to develop muscle tone and proper posture. Individuals with cerebral palsy generally have impaired movement in different forms, such as difficulty walking, increased reflexes, muscle spasms, or a mixture of these. Cerebral palsy can have an effect on other parts of the body like the eyes, throat, or overall range of motion of joints. Some people are unable to focus their eyes on one subject. Other individuals may experience blindness, deafness, or epilepsy. Because cerebral palsy is a result of brain damage, there are a wide variety of ways it can present itself in the body. Although this disorder is lifelong, treatment plans can help individuals live a more independent life overall.

Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy

Indications of cerebral palsy typically become apparent during infancy or during early school age. Children will often exhibit signs of difficulty in development. They may have issues related to coordination or muscle tone, feeding, speech, or any other problems related to development.

Movement

Symptoms of movement problems or coordination can appear as spastic movements and the inability to control reflexes or the complete opposite, as with children who seem “floppy” and unable to build strength. Stiff muscles, rigidity can indicate cerebral palsy. Infants can also show symptoms such as favoring one side of the body over the other. Some children show difficulty developing fine motor skills and struggle with things like using utensils.

Developmental Delays

Reaching developmental milestones can happen at different times for children, as every person is unique. A child’s growth tends to follow a certain timeline, however, and developmental milestones are a way for parents and healthcare providers to gauge whether there might be a problematic delay. Sometimes, children with cerebral palsy also have delays in growth and may be smaller in size than is typical. Although not all delays in reaching developmental milestones indicate a disorder, they often will result in the development of intellectual disabilities or difficulties learning.

Feeding or Speech

Infants can show symptoms of cerebral palsy when having issues feeding. They may struggle with swallowing, sucking, or chewing. Delayed speech development can also be an indication, or difficulty speaking. Another sign during infancy is drooling. Although all babies drool sometimes, excessive drooling can indicate this disorder as well.

Neurological Problems

Other neurological symptoms of cerebral palsy may be the presence of epilepsy and seizures. It can also result in difficulties with control of the bladder or bowels, enhanced tactile sensations or pain, or hearing problems. Mental health disorders related to behavior can also be present in individuals with cerebral palsy.

Over time, there may be changes in symptoms. Some children may experience additional or worsening symptoms, but others may experience lessening symptoms, particularly those engaged in therapeutic intervention.

What Can Cause Brain Damage?

There are many factors that can affect the brain’s development before birth. Often, there is not a direct cause that can be attributed to the developmental problem. Sometimes there is an indication of a cause that can be related to family health history or could be due to trauma. An accident of some kind while pregnant can sometimes result in a head injury to the developing child. Other factors such as infection, lack of oxygen, or stroke can also lead to developmental problems in the brain.

Infections and exposure to some types of toxic substances can also increase the likelihood of a baby developing cerebral palsy. Inflammation in the mother’s body from either of these sources can cause inflammation of the child’s developing brain. Diseases like rubella, syphilis, zika virus, or cytomegalovirus can all contribute to issues with the developing brain. Mercury is one toxic substance to avoid during pregnancy which can also contribute to developmental issues. Some mothers experience conditions during pregnancy such as thyroid issues or preeclampsia, which can be contributors but may only present a slight concern.

Occupational Therapy and Cerebral Palsy

The focus of living as independently as possible is the primary objective for most occupational therapy goals. For children, their independence comes through playing, engaging, and learning, which are critical for the brain’s development. Cerebral palsy can make many actions difficult, particularly for individuals with joint and mobility issues. Occupational therapists can work with children with cerebral palsy to help them achieve more independent everyday acts such as brushing their teeth or getting dressed. They may also aid individuals in helping them improve their cognitive abilities, social skills, posture, or fine motor skills. No matter the abilities of the individual, occupational therapists tailor a specific plan according to their unique needs and attainable goals. Occupational therapy also includes incorporating sensory integration and managing sensory overload, which can be a common developmental issue. Children of all ages with cerebral palsy can benefit from working with an occupational therapist for the many areas of treatment they are able to engage.

If you or a loved one are looking for help managing symptoms of cerebral palsy, start the process to work with an occupational therapist today. Our team of expert therapists serves the regions of Northern Nevada, Southern Nevada, and Oregon.