Cerebral palsy is a physical disability that can have associated disabilities i.e. speech impairment. The term cerebral palsy is used to describe a range of disorders of movements and posture. These disorders vary from very moderate to profound severities depending on the individual’s capabilities.
It is important to note that each individual with cerebral palsy deals with their different abilities and disabilities in their own way.
If you have cerebral palsy, it simply means that the information from your brain to your muscles is interrupted. Cerebral palsy affects each person differently and has different causes.
Cerebral palsy is not a disease. You cannot catch it nor is there a cure. Many causes of cerebral palsy are still unknown or not understood.
How does it happen?
Injury or changes to the developing brain are known to be associated with cerebral palsy. For instance, it is known the developing brain can be damaged by:
Exposure to certain infections such as Rubella (German Measles) in the early months of pregnancy; Lack of oxygen supply to the baby before, during or after birth;
Exposure of a baby to severe infection shortly after birth or the first few weeks of life.
An accident in the early years of life. ie physical or a motor vehicle accident.
How can it differ?
In general, there are three (3) main classifications of cerebral palsy;
Athetoid
Jerking movements seldom seen below the age of 2 years.
Spastic
Increased muscle tone.
Ataxic
Lack of co-ordination which results in unsteady and / or uncontrolled movements.
It is common for a person with cerebral palsy to have a mixture of the above classifications. In addition, it is also common to have the following:
Monoplegia
Impaired use of one limb.
Hemiplegia
Impaired use of one arm and one leg, i.e. one side of the body
Diplegia
Impaired use of two legs
Quadriplegia
Impaired use of four limbs.
Also, it is common for people with cerebral palsy to have what is known as the Startle Reflex. This is an involuntary pattern of movement in response to stimulation such as touch or sudden noise which results in an over reaction of reflexes causing the person to spasm.