What Is CP?

From Cerebral Palsy Guide.com:

"What is Cerebral Palsy?"

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a blanket term for several disorders that affect normal, healthy movement. Over 10,000 children are diagnosed each year.  Cerebral palsy (commonly referred to as CP) affects normal movement in different parts of the body and has many degrees of severity. CP causes problems with posture, gait, muscle tone and coordination of movement. Some children with CP also have coexisting conditions, such as vision and hearing impairment. These disorders are caused by brain damage and are not a direct result of one’s cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy does not generally affect life expectancy. Depending on how the condition is managed, motor skills can improve or decline over time. While symptoms and severity vary from case to case, most people diagnosed with this condition go on to lead a rich, fulfilling life. There are many treatments that can help both children and adults with CP live a full life. Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the fetal or infant brain. It occurs when there is neurological damage before, during, or within five years of birth that prevents the brain from developing properly. Damage to the parts of the brain that control motor function causes children with CP to struggle with posture, balance and movement. Although this disability affects muscle tone and movement, it isn’t caused by problems with the actual muscles or nerves — it is strictly the result of developmental brain damage. The first question many parents have following a recent CP diagnosis is what could have caused their child’s brain injury. It’s important that parents work with doctors and specialists in order to conclude which factors may have contributed to their child’s condition.

Common causes of CP include:

- Bacterial and viral infections

- Bleeding in the brain (hemorrhaging)

- A lack of oxygen to the brain before, during or after birth (asphyxia)

- Prenatal exposure to drugs and alcohol, mercury poisoning from fish and toxoplasmosis from raw/undercooked meat

- Head injuries sustained during birth or in the first few years of infancy

Not every case of cerebral palsy has a clear cut explanation. It’s estimated that 20 to 50 percent of cases have unknown causes. Clinical trials are just one technique being used to conduct further research on the potential causes of CP.

The most common signs of cerebral palsy are:

- Problems with movement on one side of body

- Stiff muscles

- Exaggerated or jerky reflexes

- Involuntary movements or tremors

- Lack of coordination and balance

- Drooling

- Problems swallowing or sucking

- Difficulty with speech (dysarthria)

- Seizures

- Contractures (shortening of muscles)

- Delayed motor skill development

- Incontinence

- Gastrointestinal problems

Common conditions that may be present alongside cerebral palsy include:

- Epilepsy

- Vision or hearing impairments

- Learning disabilities

- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

- Chronic pain or discomfort

- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

- Speech disorders

- Mental health disorders

The 4 main types are:

- Spastic (70% of cases) — The most common type of cerebral palsy is known as spastic cerebral palsy. This is caused by damage to the brain’s motor cortex. Typical symptoms include stiff, exaggerated movements.

- Athetoid/dyskinetic (10%) — This type is caused by injury to the brain’s basal ganglia, which controls balance and coordination. Children with athetoid/dyskinetic CP often exhibit involuntary tremors.

- Ataxic (10%) — Ataxic cerebral palsy is characterized by lack of coordination and balance. This is caused by damage to the cerebellum, which is the part of the brain that connects to the spine.

- Mixed (10%) — Some cases of cerebral palsy are classified as Mixed. This occurs when an individual exhibits symptoms of more than one type of CP.

Treatment for CP is twofold — there is treatment early in life and lifelong management.

Early treatment for children with cerebral palsy is important because the developing brain and body are more resilient. This means that there are more opportunities to correct or improve some of the child’s mobility limitations during this time. Treatment isn’t focused on curing or fully correcting a child’s CP. Rather, it’s about nurturing a child’s development so they can live as independently as possible. Many children with cerebral palsy are completely self-sufficient and have satisfying, meaningful lives. Actively treating the symptoms that coincide with CP is the best way to ensure the highest quality of life for a child as they transition into adulthood. Children with cerebral palsy can improve their motor skills with the help of traditional and alternative therapy, medication, surgery and more. Parents should seek out a multidisciplinary team of specialists to effectively treat their child’s condition.

The multidisciplinary team may include:

- Developmental pediatricians

- Neurologists

- Orthopedic surgeons

- Physical therapists

- Respiratory therapists

- Speech therapists

- Nutritionists

- Occupational therapists

- Psychologists (to assess ability and behavior)

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