Cerebral Palsy
What is Cerebral Palsy? According to Perlstein it is a "term used to designate any paralysis, weakness, in coordination, or functional aberration of the motor system resulting from brain pathology."(McDonald 7). Most cases of Cerebral Palsy are diagnosed before age three, the sooner it is diagnosed the better the chance the child has of living a normal life. This condition usually occurs during birth or infancy and is more frequent in underdeveloped nations. The exact cause can not always be determined but according to Yahoo health premature infants have a higher chance of developing Cerebral Palsy because of hypoxia or low oxygen levels in the brain. It can also be caused by cerebral injuries due to illness, or a head injury that caused hematoma or blood vessel damage in the brain.
There are many treatment options available to treat individuals who suffer from Cerebral Palsy. Since no two children are affected in exactly the same way individual treatment options may vary. Some treatment options include physical therapy to help develop motor skills, occupational therapy to improve posture and movement, and a speech pathologist will help develop speech skills. Other treatment options include surgery, medication, sensory integration therapy, or the use of adaptive equipment.(http://content.health.msn.com) In order for any treatment program to be successful the parents must be involved, they must work with their child at home and be committed to improving their child's quality of life. The earlier a child is placed in a treatment program the better the chances they have of living a close to normal life. The sooner the muscles are trained the easier it is to correct faulty habits and poor muscle control. That is not to say though that once a child hits a certain age therapy will be ineffective; good results can still be produced. More time and effort will just be needed.
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