What causes cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood. It is estimated two to three people out of every 1000 will have cerebral palsy. The condition is not hereditary and there is no cure. Many causes of cerebral palsy are still not known or understood. Injury or changes to the developing brain are associated with cerebral palsy.

Causes

  • Meningitis, or infection of the coverings of the brain and spinal cord, has been linked to CP.
  • Abnormal brain development, whether inherited or due to injuries while in the womb, can result in CP. Such injuries may involve lack of blood flow to areas of the brain or bleeding inside the brain.
  • If a mother gets certain infections like rubella and German Measles during preg­nancy, CP can also result.
  • CP can also result when a baby's blood type is differ­ent than its mother's blood type.
  • Some of the baby's red blood cells may be destroyed, caus­ing high levels of a special chemical called Bilirubin. Bilirubin causes skin to turn yellowish, a condi­tion called jaundice. An increase in bilirubin can also cause brain damage and CP.
  • Severe head injury in the first few months of life has been associated with cerebral palsy. 
  • In addition to the many possible causes of CP that are known, there are still many cases of CP that have Unknown cause.
  • Doctors, Physiotherapists, Rehabilitation professionals and Community Health workers have identified CP through the delayed physical developments of the children both urban and rural areas.

For example, it is known the developing brain can be injured by:

- Exposure to certain infections such as Rubella (German Measles) in the early months of     pregnancy.
- Reduced oxygen supply to the baby during or after birth.
- Exposure of an infant to severe infection shortly after birth or the first few weeks of life. - An accident in the early years of life.

What other Risk Factors for CP ?
  • Babies who are born prematurely or with a low birth weight. The smaller the baby, the higher the chances are that CP will develop.
  •   Babies of mothers who had vaginal bleeding during pregnancy
  •   Babies of mothers who had very difficult la­bor, especially breech births. Breech means that the baby is not in the usual head first position as it enters the birth canal.
  •   Babies who had meconium staining. Me-conium staining is when the baby passes stools while still in the uterus.

What caused my child's cerebral palsy?

There are a number of causes of cerebral palsy. However, it is important to understand that for many children, even after a range of tests and careful reviews, the cause of the cerebral palsy will not be clearly identified. It is entirely understandable that many families will continue to worry about the cause, the why and how this has happened to their child. Parents may experience complex feelings of self blame, however, usually parents could have done nothing to prevent this from occurring. It can be helpful to talk to other families who share the same issues and concerns.

 

How do I know my child has cerebral palsy?

In the early months of life it is sometimes difficult to determine if a child has cerebral palsy. The condition may only be identified when a child experiences delays with the movement and postural development needed for sitting and standing.

 

What other difficulties might my child have?

Hearing
All children should have a hearing assessment to check for hearing problems.

Vision
Children with cerebral palsy may have special eye care needs that should be examined and monitored by an Opthalmologist (Eye Specialist).

Speech
Because children with cerebral palsy can have problems with movement of the jaw, lips, tongue, facial muscles and breathing control, these children may have difficulty talking. An alternative communication device may be of assistance eg. Communication Board or Voice Output Device.

Epilepsy
This is not uncommon in children with cerebral palsy. Appropriate medication can be prescribed by a general practitioner that will help to control seizures.

Intellectual disabilities and learning difficulties
No one person can predict the full potential of a child with cerebral palsy. Children can vary widely in their ability to learn.

Perceptual difficulties
Perception is the interpretation of information from the senses eg. eye-hand coordination, spatial awareness, shape recognition, and moving around objects. Perceptual disorders can impact on the child's organisational abilities and living skills.

Language difficulties
Children with cerebral palsy may experience a number of difficulties including understanding ideas, sentence construction and interpreting what is said to them. This may affect later learning.

Nutrition
Children with cerebral palsy may experience a range of difficulties when eating and drinking that may impact on their nutritional needs.

 

Will my child get better?

At the present time, there is no known cure for cerebral palsy and related disabilities. However, all children learn, develop and grow according to their own unique potential as will your child. The various forms of treatment will often bring about some improvement and maximise the child's abilities. Future advances in the study and research of cerebral palsy and related disabilities will lead to further understanding of this condition and possible new approaches.

 

Will my child's condition get worse as she/he gets older?

Once the initial damage to the brain has occurred early in life, for most individuals there is no further increase in this damage. However, sometimes parents are concerned their child's condition is deteriorating. This maybe due to a number of indications such as those outlined below. These are all reasons for why a child's condition may appear to be deteriorating when in fact the original damage to the brain has not altered.

- Sometimes it is harder and frustrating for a child with cerebral palsy and related disabilities to manage more complex tasks such as independently eating a meal and learning to dress for school. Managing these tasks may take the child longer to do.
- As a child grows, the muscles often become tighter especially during key growth spurts when the child's bones are growing more quickly than the muscles. The child may then experience difficulties with mobility.
- The progress of a child with cerebral palsy and related disabilities may temporarily be delayed due to their contracting any one of a number of childhood illnesses and infections.
- A child with cerebral palsy and related disabilities may experience a great deal of emotional stress during important life transition times such as starting school, learning a new skill, or reacting to the arrival of a new baby in the household.

 

Can I expect my child to have a normal life expectancy?

As most children with cerebral palsy and related disabilities are as healthy as any other child, they can expect to live the normal lifespan.

 

Will any other children I have develop cerebral palsy and related disabilities ?

While this is an unlikely occurrence, pregnancy and birth is at the best of times, a complicated process. No-one can provide you with an absolute guarantee there will not be similar difficulties experienced.

However, it is important to know that most parents of children with cerebral palsy and related disabilities do go on to have other children without any complications. Your doctor/obstetrician should be able to discuss this matter with you and provide information relevant to your circumstances.

 

Will my child be able to attend kindergarten, daycare or preschool?

Most children with cerebral palsy and related disabilities will have the opportunity to attend the local community program of choice.

 

Will my child attend regular school?

Many children with cerebral palsy and related disabilities can expect to attend regular school. It is both the policy and philosophical commitment of Education Queensland that children with disabilities have the same right to an education as other children.
 

What are the Aims for Cerebral palsy Rehabilitation?

  1. To develop forms of communication like gesture, speech, typing and with signs.
  2. To develop independence with daily activities to eating, drinking, dressing, washing, toileting and general self-care.
  3. To play and develop recreational activities.
  4. To develop form of locomotion and independent mobility this may include wheel chair, electronic mobile buggies or driving motor vehicles.
  5. To develop the special skills and promote personal, social and educational skills.

1. What is the role of physiotherapist?
            The role of physiotherapist needs to instruct the parents or caregivers to carry the child in a special way in order to prevent worsening of deformity. The therapist should monitored the rehabilitation process like, Lifting and Carrying, Positioning, Lying, Sitting, Chair Sitting, Standing and Walking.

 

2. What is the role of Occupational Therapist and using assistive devices for CP ?
The main goal of the Occupational Therapist is to making the client independence in his Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Some of the adaptive devices are as follows,

  • Toileting- Raised toilet can be used.
  • Bathing- Rails, Bath Board, Hand held Shower, Soap holders, etc. can make bathing easier.
  • Feeding–Non Slip plates, Plate guards adapted spoons, long handled devices or utensils are used.
Assistive devices for Learning and Communication.


3. What is the role of the Special educator in CP rehabilitation?

The role of special educator in cerebral palsy is all pervasive. Since it is an area of multiple disabilities and often associated with learning disability, deaf, blindness and autism which place on awesome responsibility on the special skills of the special educators
 
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