Many Americans are affected by Cerebral Palsy, whether they have it or they know someone who does. This crippling condition is not only devastating for the victim but also the family. With no definite cure, many people suffer through the symptoms and conquer Cerebral Palsy in their own way. The unique condition is often misconceived and forgotten, but with the help of many organizations, love for those with CP will always remain. Cerebral Palsy is a permanent neurological disorder, described as a nonreversible malformation of the brain. Often diagnosed between the ages of one and five, children are either born with the condition or have experienced extreme trauma making them more susceptible to the disorder. Common causes of CP include viral infections, bleeding in the …show more content…
Cerebral Palsy was officially discovered in 1843 by William Little. Little observed abnormal births for a large majority of his career, noting the uniqueness of each complication, and attempting to link all symptoms together. Research states that he became so infatuated with the disease that other professionals named it “Little’s disease”(4). Around 1862 the doctor published a series of papers on his observations and discoveries; he then urged others to follow in his footsteps (4). Near the beginning of the 1900s, a well known psychologist named Sigmund Freud, also became interested and eventually published a book on the disorder in which he described as “infantile cerebral paralysis” or Cerebral Palsy for short. Through these papers and research, Cerebral Palsy became a good explanation for many unidentified physical and mental complications. The Children’s Hospital in Boston,
Cerebral palsy is a brain and nervous system disorder that was discovered in the mid nineteenth century by a group of people with a generous commitment of improving the lives of people with disability (MyChildatCerebralpalsy.org, 2014). One of such individuals is William Little, who pioneered customary studies relating to cerebral palsy by using his childhood disability to substantiate the causal relationships between natal complications and physical and
Cerebral palsy cannot be cured although early support and therapeutic intervention can help children’s development.
Cerebral Palsy is one of the most common reasons for chronic childhood disability, approximately 10,000 infants are diagnosed and up to 1,500 preschoolers are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. The United Cerebral Palsy Association estimates that m0re than 764,000 Americans have Cerebral Palsy. Between 35% & 50% of all children inflicted with Cerebral Palsy also have an additional seizure disorder with some level of mental retardation. They may also have learning disabilities along with vision, speech, hearing, or language problems.
Cerebral palsy is disorder where there is a lesion on the brain or abnormal brain growth which causes problem with movement and posture. Children may have issues with paralysis, extreme weakness, lack of coordination, involuntary motor functions.
Cerebral Palsy is a neurological condition. As a result, it affects a person’s whole body and his or her brain, muscles movements and their body. Consequently
Cerebral Palsy or CP is a neurological disorder that affects the cerebellum. The Cerebellum is the part of the brain that controls body movement, muscle coordination, and balance. The majority of children diagnosed with CP are born with it, although it may not be detected until months or years later. CP is not a hereditary defect so in order for a child to be diagnosed with it there must have been head trauma before or shortly after birth.
I choose Cerebral Palsy because I think that it’s a very unique disability how it disables you back
Cerebral palsy is deemed as a very common genetic medical condition, in which a child develops physical disability in relation with the body movement. A substantial number of legitimate and credible journal articles have discussed this medical condition. It has been evaluated that the condition of cerebral palsy will also cause certain sensation related abnormalities along with improper communication (Shatrov, et al, p. 387). This medical condition will make a direct impact over the physical and mental health condition of the patients. Different reviews have mentioned that the incidence rate of cerebral palsy is always increasing among the population of the United States of America (USA). However, still the prevalence rate of this condition
The human brain is a complex organ and is difficult to work with. There are many different types of brain disorders and affects each person in a different way. There are about ten thousand infants who are diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and about one thousand fife hundred preschoolers who begin to show symptoms of cerebral palsy. There is no current cure for this disorder, but there are many treatments that can help these children live longer and healthier. Thirty to fifty percent of children with cerebral palsy will also have a seizure disorder and some type of mental retardation (WEDMD).
Words like incurable, permanent, handicap, and special needs may make cerebral palsy seem like some big, scary disease, but with modern treatments and surgeries, the disorder can be made extremely manageable. Cerebral palsy is a blanket term for impaired or loss of motor function due to damage to an immature brain (Cerebral Palsy). The injury must occur before, during, or immediately after birth to be considered cerebral palsy. Evidence suggests that most of the damage occurs during prenatal development (Bunch 33). Cerebral palsy-causing injuries can only happen to immature brains (Bunch 32).
Cerebral palsy cannot be easily diagnosed in infancy. However, there are early signs that could pinpoint CP include stiffness, difficulty with crawling, standing and moving in position, and favoring one side. It can be noticed when the baby does not roll over properly and fails to meet developmental milestones. Children with the disorder are usually diagnosed at about before age three years or even earlier. The pediatrician can sometimes diagnose cerebral palsy during the baby’s check-up. Another way, a doctor would ask the parents, typically the first to know something is wrong with their child about their observations. He or she can perform a M.R.I. to produce an image of the brain, do intelligence tests, test reflexes, and do self-observations by having the child do simple commands (ex. stand up straight) and refer to eye or ear specialists if need be. Blood tests are done to see if there are other conditions as early signs do not always translate to cp. If
Depending on the region of the brain that is affected, the disability may differ. For example, a person may be affected with spasticity, or stiff muscles. Another person may be affected with dyskinesia, or uncontrollable movements(2). It is important to diagnose Cerebral Palsy at a young age for the wellbeing of the child. Diagnosing Cerebral Palsy involves several steps, Developmental Monitoring, Developmental Screening, and Developmental and Medical Evaluations(1). Developmental Monitoring would involve tracking the child’s growth, like for example every time that they go for a check-up at the doctor’s. Usually the doctor will ask if the parents have any concerns about the growth and the development of their child, and will almost always do this regardless to keep the baby healthy. Even though they do this with all children, those with low birth weight or other risk factors at birth may be monitored more closely than those born healthy. Screening involves a small test on the child that will show the doctor if the child has any motor or movement delays. These will be performed every couple of months, usually at 9 months, and then again at 18 and so on. Now keep in mind that even though there are
Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects the body’s movements, balance, and position (CDC, 2015). The condition can affect parts or the entire body, and it can impair motor function from assisted walking, to the use of a wheelchair (McMahon, Pruitt, & Vargus-Adams, 2009). Due to the variations in the condition, it is difficult to find a set treatment plan, so often cerebral palsy patients undergo various therapy programs, in order to find one that produces the greatest outcome. Currently, forms of therapy such as chiropractic, massage, and stretching are used in conjunction with regular occupational and physical therapy sessions. Chiropractic interventions are a commonly used and accepted therapy that helps relieve arthritis,
The conversation I had with the father of a teenage boy with cerebral palsy who lived in the isolated village of Quicha Chico, was one of the moments that stood out to me most during my International Health Fellowship in Peru last summer. I was amazed by how the pair navigated the steep paths and uneven terrain in their village, with the dad carrying his son sitting on his shoulders, as had done since the boy was a toddler. Now, as an older man, it was amazing to see the lengths he went to carrying his son from their farm outside the village, for him to have a health screening by our team. Not only did it show me the desire for health care people have but it also showcased the other aspects of health and wellbeing that are so much broader than diagnoses and treatments. This young man in an isolated village in the Andes had never had a wheelchair and, even if he did, the terrain in and around his home would have made it impossible for him to use it. Additionally, it was discouraging to imagine what will happen to him once his father died, a fear his father shared with me. This young man could have accurate diagnosis and even all the available tools to live with his condition but isolation and lack of support eclipsed the effects his diagnosis and even medication or other clinical treatment could have had.
Imagine giving birth to a child, being ecstatic to have a new baby around the house. As the child gets older you start noticing your child is not developing like other children. You go to the doctor for a visit and you are told your newborn baby has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. Not knowing anything about this disability, you are frightened and concerned for your child. People living with this disability are living a life very different from the average person. Since they are living with this disability and live an altering life, they face difficult challenges that affect them in many ways. Although the diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy can be startling for parents, many patients are capable of living independent and fulfilling lives.