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Cerebral palsy is a group of
disorders characterized by impairment of movement or impairment of other
nerve functions. These disorders are caused by injuries to the brain
during fetal development or near the time of birth. Cerebral Palsy
occurs in approximately 2 to 4 individuals for every 1000 births. People
with cerebral palsy have a wide range of difficulties, from clumsy walk
to an inability to speak or swallow, caused by faulty messages sent from
the brain to the muscles. There are four classifications of cerebral
palsy; spastic, athetoid, ataxic and mixed. Spasticity occurs in about
50% of all individuals with cerebral palsy. Symptoms usually include
reduced movement due to stiff or permanently contracted muscles. Athetoid (dyskinetic) affects about 20% of individuals with cerebral
palsy and is characterized by uncontrolled movements (twisting, jerking,
or other movements). The ataxic type of cerebral palsy occurs in about
10% percent of cases. Affected individuals have difficulty with
coordination while walking and moving the upper limbs. The remaining 20%
are classified as mixed, with any combination of symptoms. Other
disorders may be present along with cerebral palsy, such as, mental
retardation, but it does not necessarily result in all cases. Other
coexisting problems include epilepsy, visual disturbances, hearing
impairment, language difficulty, and slow growth. Cerebral Palsy is a
lifelong disorder that varies widely in extent of disability. |
