What Is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a group of permanent movement disorders that tend to develop in early childhood. The disorder originates in the cerebellum, which is located dorsally to the superior part of the brain and is composed of two hemispheres. In a healthy body, the cerebellum receives information from the spinal cord and then regulates motor movements. The cerebellum is composed of about half of the brain’s neurons. This does not mean that the disorder cannot develop in adulthood, however cases such as those are quite rare. The disease is caused by an abnormal development to the cerebellum, which results in motor function and coordination being impaired, however risk factors are said to be developed as a fetus and can be developed due to to premature …show more content…
Because cerebral palsy affects the cerebellum, which controls the body’s motor functions and limb coordination, the symptoms correlate to what part of the brain is affected. Symptoms of the disease include either very stiff or floppy muscle tone. Stiff muscles are paired with either exaggerated reflexes, known as spasticity, or normal reflexes (rigidity). With stiff muscles associated with this disorder, the patient loses all control of muscle movement. Another symptom is ataxia and involuntary movements, or tremors. Movement of the body goes with anything a patient tries to do, that includes speaking, chewing, blinking, etc. Because you lose control of these functions with cerebral palsy, a patient has difficulty swallowing, will experience excessive drooling, difficulty speaking, as well as difficulty precise motions (like lifting a fork). Sometimes the patient’s symptoms affect only one side of the body, or it can affect the whole body. The symptoms aren’t just physical however, and can affect other parts of the body affected by the brain. For example, patients might have vision or hearing impairments. Also reported were abnormal pain perceptions, oral diseases, intellectual disabilities, and urinary incontinence. The most common symptom for someone with cerebral palsy is for the patient to experience multiple seizures, sometimes all in one day. …show more content…
There is also speech therapy, surgery for any muscles that afren’t working as they should be, drugs for the seizures many people that suffer with CP get and there is also communication aids to help.The treatment varies for each patient because the effect of CP completely varies,Some people can hear for example while others can’t and some may walk but others may not show normal intellectual function.For example muscle surgery is typically used on CP patients who have a reduced range of motion because of their muscle stiffness. The treatment of cerebral palsy is very complex as it ranges from the severity of a child’s symptoms, and the child himself. Because the disorder itself cannot be treated, treatment is aimed at managing the symptoms and physical impairments that come with CP. The main goals that therapists are trying to reach with a patient suffering from CP is maximize their abilities and manage their current conditions. Some prefer conventional methods and use thoroughly researched and FDA approved medicines whilst others choose to turn to complementary methods, and use drugs and treatments that haven’t been approved yet. Aside from medicine-related therapy, there is also use of specialized equipment to help a child with CP live a nearly normal life. Because different children experience different symptoms, children need different devices to