Many people might think that cerebral palsy is just one kind illness or disorder, but it is actually more than that. Basically it is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive and non-contagious, motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development.
It is divided into four major classifications – spastic, ataxic, athetoid which is also known as dyskinetic, ans hypotonic. These four groups are made intended to describe different movement impairments and as reflections to the area of the brain that are damaged.
Spastic cerebral palsy is by far the most common type occurring 70-80% of all cases. However, this is considered as typically more easily manageable, and medical treatment can be pursued throughout life.
Ataxic or ataxia can be caused when the cerebrum (a part of the brain) is damaged; this one on the other hand is not a common type of CP occurring at approximately 10% in all cases. Motor skills such as writing, using scissors, or typing may be affected. Difficulty in balance especially while walking and visual or auditory processing may also be involved.
Some of the symptoms of CP are involuntary movements, walking difficulty, balance difficulty, limb paralysis, difficulty with fine motor control, muscle rigidity, mental ailment, speech difficulty, hearing disorders, seizures, and epilepsy. Babies born with severe cerebral palsy often have an irregular body posture; their bodies might be either very floppy or very stiff. But many babies born with this condition don’t show symptoms right away, often these symptoms are seen in their older years.
There are many causes of cerebral palsy, such as head injury, jaundice, RH incompatibility, rubella, congenital brain conditions, and maternal infections, alcoholism, and maternal drug abuse. Studies also show that between 40% and 50% of all children who develop with cerebral palsy were born prematurely. Due to these babies’ vulnerability, there is an increase risk of hypoxic injury to the brain that may eventually manifest as cerebral palsy.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for CP, but many kinds of therapy can be of great help to people who suffer from this disorder. And lastly, early treatment can give better chances for a person to be in better condition.
