Cerebral palsy (cp)
Cerebral palsy is not a disease or illness. The term refers to a physical condition which affects movement as a result of an injury to the brain. Every person with cp will have difficulties with movement but the severity of these problems varies greatly depending on when the damage occurred, the extent of it and which part(s) of the brain are affected.
Associated sensory, cognitive and medical challenges can also be part of the overall picture but are not inevitable. People with cp, like the general population, can have a wide range of academic and social skills.
Cp is an umbrella term to cover a “multitude of conditions” and therefore it is commonly sub classified according to the area of the brain damaged and the affect this has on the tone of the muscles throughout the body.
- People can have increased tone or stiffness (Spastic cp).
- People can have variable muscle tone and the presence of fluctuating and extraneous (unwanted) movements (Athetoid cp).
- People with muscle in-co-ordination, tremor on effort and balance issues (Ataxic cp).
- Children with persistent low tone are referred to as children with Hypotonia (low tone).
How does it happen?
Cp is most commonly the result of damage to and/or mal-development of the brain, either before birth or in early childhood. This is sometimes because of a blocked blood vessel, complications in labour, extreme pre-maturity or illness just after birth. Infections during pregnancy, or infancy and early childhood, e.g. meningitis or encephalitis, can also cause Cerebral Palsy. Occasionally it is due to an inherited disorder. Sometimes, but not always, it is possible to identify the cause of cp.What are the effects?
The main effect of cp is difficulty in movement. Many people with cp are hardly affected, others have problems walking, feeding, talking or using their hands. Some people are unable to sit up without support and need constant enabling. As stated other parts of the brain can be affected, resulting in sight, hearing, perception and learning difficulties. Between a quarter and a third of children and adolescents, and about a tenth of adults, are also affected by epilepsy. People with cp often have difficulty controlling their movement and facial expressions. This does not necessarily mean that their mental abilities are in any way impaired.Is there a cure?
No, but we do know all children have the ability to learn. They need people who believe in this residual ability and can deliver appropriate learning programmes to help them “learn how to learn”. Intervention needs to begin as early as possible to give the families support and help them to see (and then facilitate) their child’s learning potential rather than just the disability. Most importantly, having motor sensory challenges does not mean that someone cannot lead a full and independent life.
How prevalent is cerebral palsy?
Improvements in maternity services and neonatal care have meant that fewer babies develop cp as a result of birth trauma or jaundice. However it also means that more babies with very low birth weights survive. These babies are more likely to have cp. Currently about one in every four hundred is affected.
Parents wishing to enrol their children at PACE should, in the first instance, telephone 01296 392739 to provide details and arrange for a visit and/or assessment. This visit will enable parents and staff to determine whether placement at PACE would be beneficial. PACE accepts referrals from three months upwards.