Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects muscle tone, posture, movement, balance, and coordination due to an injury or abnormality in the developing brain. Beyond motor challenges, it can also be associated with epilepsy, speech difficulties, vision impairments, cognitive delays, and behavioral differences.
Causes of Cerebral Palsy
The primary cause is brain injury or malformation during early development. Other factors include brain infections, oxygen deprivation, hemorrhage, kernicterus, metabolic disorders, and genetic conditions.
Signs of Cerebral Palsy
Early detection is key. In infants, symptoms include rigid or floppy muscles and movement difficulties. In toddlers, signs include favoring one side of the body or walking on toes. Other symptoms across ages include excessive crying, sleep difficulties, jerking movements, and seizures.
Types of Cerebral Palsy
- Spastic Diplegia: Stiffness in the limbs, especially legs, causing scissoring or dragging while crawling.
- Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy: Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, noticeable when a child favors one side.
- Dystonia: Poor head control, fluctuating muscle tone, and rigidity affecting speech while intellect remains intact.
- Spastic Quadriplegia: Severe impairment of all limbs, causing seizures, vision and hearing problems, swallowing issues, and respiratory difficulties.
Diagnosis at Healing About You
At Healing About You, our specialists conduct thorough assessments, including MRI scans, hearing and vision tests, and EEG for seizure activity.
Treatment Approach
While cerebral palsy has no cure, Healing About You provides holistic management strategies to improve mobility and communication. Our approach includes physiotherapy, occupational and speech therapy, surgical interventions for muscle correction, orthopedic support devices, and medications for seizure and spasticity control.
At Healing About You, we support children and parents, providing a nurturing environment for optimal growth. If you suspect signs of cerebral palsy in your child, book an appointment with our specialists today.