The Lives Of People And Families Affected By Cerebral Palsy

The human body is made up of many organ systems that consist of organs and tissues of different anatomies and diverse nomenclature. These organs systems, organs and tissues are prone to thousands of diseases, and one of these diseases is cerebral palsy, which is a disease of the nervous system in simple terms. Research relating to cerebral palsy is carried out, whereby the disorder is described, along with its history, and how it affects the nervous system and the brain. The anatomy of the body systems involves with regard to this disorder, the effects of the disorder on these body systems and other body systems are also researched and discussed. Furthermore, the research focuses on the causes of cerebral palsy, its complications, signs, and symptoms, and the diagnosis of the disorder, along with its treatment and side effects of the treatment. A recap of the research focusing on prevention strategies, the anatomy and physiology of cerebral palsy and the nervous system is presented.

Cerebral palsy is a condition which has more than one disorder which can affect movement, posture and coordination. This condition can be recognized when the child is born, but also can be detected when the child reaches particular motor development

Children born today have a fifty-fifty chance to live to be one hundred years old or more, and the quality of their lives will be affected by the research and empirical data that is being generated by organizations dedicated to helping developmentally disabled adults live more meaningful lives. These programs also serve as a benchmark in the battle against cerebral palsy in general and provide valuable best practice examples, thereby influencing the American health care system as a whole. While the search for a cure continues, cerebral palsy represents a debilitating disease that can adversely affect the ability of sufferers to provide for the basic needs of living, but with appropriate treatment and care, many are able to accomplish far more than most observers might believe in terms of their independence, productivity and integration with larger American society, goals that are also legally mandated. To determine how these positive clinical outcomes are possible, this paper provides a review of the relevant peer-reviewed and scholarly literature concerning the role of United Cerebral Palsy in delivering high quality care pursuant to the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 as overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to determine the effect of this oversight on a representative

People with Cerebral Palsy often have trouble with posture, balance, ability to move, communication, eating, and sleeping. These people have uncontrolled or unpredictable movements like tremors or muscles can be stiff, weak, or tight. Many people with Cerebral Palsy have difficulty breathing, swallowing, head control, neck control, eating, and have dental and digestive problems. Three in four people experience pain which is caused by abnormal postures, skin breakdown, and etc.

“The term cerebral palsy refers to a group of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement, muscle coordination, and balance”(Cerebral Palsy Information). “Cerebral Palsy affects the part of the brain that controls muscle movements”(Cerebral Palsy Information). It is common to be found within months of an infant being born to years in childhood. The condition is not genetically transferred it mostly depends of the baby in the womb. “Some of the possible causes include a lack of oxygen to the brain during labor and delivery, severe jaundice in the infant, maternal infections such German measles and herpes simplex, brain infections such as encephalitis and meningitis, bleeding into the brain ,head injuries as a result of a car accident, a fall, or child abuse” (Cerebral Palsy: Causes). In some cases the cause of Cerebral Palsy is not known.

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a disorder that affects the movement, muscle tone, and the ability to move accordingly. This disorder is incurable but it can be helped with therapy and proper treatment like special equipment and surgery. CP is a brain damage that happens before or during a baby’s birth. This can lead to a lot of health issues like hearing and speech problems. I chose this specific topic is because of one of my little cousins has disorder. My cousin, Mariah, was born with disorder because it's a family trait on her father side. She’s only two, and everyday in some way she's growing to function on her own. For instance, she learned to roll over, she knows how to say “Mama” and “no”, and she knows how to fight and scratch a lot. This matters

Cerebral Palsy is an umbrella term for a group of disabilities associated with movement and posture (Victoria Government, 2014; What is Cerebral Palsy? 2014). Every patient of this disability will look different and move differently due to the affected location within the brain (What is Cerebral Palsy? 2014). Cerebral Palsy will appear as a muscle disability, however, it is caused by the cerebrum being damaged. The cerebrum is responsible for memory, learning ability, muscle control, and communication skills; this is why some people with cerebral palsy struggle with communication and learning (Nordqvist, C, 2015).

Exact etiological factors of Cerebral Palsy (CP) are not specifically known. Researchers have been doing much to decipher the causes of a child diagnosis of CP. What is believed up to this point is that there are several keys to the classification of cerebral palsy which in turn, lead o a greater understanding of what may have caused it. These classifications are made based off of the following; the severity (which is determined using the Gross Motor Function Classification System), the motor type determined (spastic, ataxic, or dyskinetic) and the topographical

"Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in children and represents the most frequent diagnosis in children who receive physical therapy" ( "Physical", (n.d) , p.1). Thousands of children are affected by the disability every year, cerebral palsy can be detected as early as when the child is an infant. Physical therapist help these children learn better ways to move and balance, as well as learn to walk, use their wheelchair, and stand up without assistance.("Physical" , (n.d) , p.1). Physical therapy for the people affected by the disability is important, so that when at home they can do things for themselves and not rely on someone to do it for them. Physical therapy for these patients should continue at home through an exercise

List the body functions and body structures that have been affected by the client’s cerebral palsy. Identify the areas of occupation that the client enjoys or values.

CP is the most common cause of physical disability in early childhood, resulting from damage to the developing brain either during pregnancy or shortly after birth. “Cerebral palsy is

coordination. Also a person that faces with Cerebral Palsy may have problems with their hearing, visual

"CP affects a child's ability to move and maintain posture and balance... the injury does not damage the child's muscles or nerves connecting them to the spinal-cord-only the brains ability to control the muscles" (Geralis 2). Depending on which part of the brain is injured it will affect how the brain will be able to control tone. If tone is missing it will lead to muscle and movement problems. "Missing tone leads to very tight muscles which affects movements of joints and limbs and jerky movements associated with certain types of CP, which is different from tight muscles that you see in other types of CP" (Narayanan video). Doctors who treat the body of a person who has CP wants to relieve pain or prevent it from happening. Also, if a person with CP can walk, doctors would like to make them walk better therefore they can do more things that they would enjoy doing. Dr. Rice treats and assesses children of their abnormal tone difficulties and muscular skeletal problems. At around age 2 children start to develop difficulties with muscle tone that can impact hip development. Some children are not standing or sitting and need earlier treatment than children who progress towards walking independently or with support. Children of that age like to move around and may need help to do it, or have equipment like a walker or a wheelchair, 2-3 years old have rapid development and go from parallel play to integrated play (Rice).

One of the most common neurological disorders that affects development from birth through adulthood is one that I am very familiar with, cerebral palsy. According to (Hurley et al., 2011) there is an “estimated 800,000 children and adults living with cerebral palsy,” I am one of those adults that were born with cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy affects a person’s development of “movement and posture, causing activity limitations due to disturbances that occur during the development of the fetal or infant brain,” (Hurley et al., 2011). Cerebral palsy is commonly associated with the visual signs like physical affliction these can be in the face, legs or arms affecting one limb or multiple limbs, the most common is the affect it has on muscles

Because CP describes a group of neurological and physical abnormalities, people affected by the disorder may have other neurological and physical problems. CP may not be noticeable at birth. Children with CP develop predictable developmental milestones slowly because of their motor impairments, and these delays in reaching milestones are usually the first symptoms (Gale Enc). Doctors diagnose CP by checking the infant’s motor skills, looking for developmental delays, and considering the child’s medical history. Many Doctors use the Early Motor Pattern Profile (EMPP) to help in their evaluations. The EMPP indicates variations in muscle tone, reflexes, and movement and is used to identify children during the first year of life who are at risk for the development of CP. The EMPP can be done during a routine office visit. Observation and minimal handling can detect abnormal motor patterns, making it quick and inexpensive. EMPP is the beginning of evaluation and intervention (“Early” 692). CP is a neurological disorder affecting motor control. It is the most common physical disability in childhood. It is a lifelong condition that varies from person to person. It can be very mild or extremely severe. There is no known cure, and the cause is not completely understood. The four main categories of CP are spastic, athetoid, ataxic, and mixed. Spastic is stiff and difficult movement. Athetoid is involuntary and uncontrolled movement. Ataxic is a disturbed sense of balance and