Cerebral Palsy, commonly known as CP, is a form of permanent disorder related to neurology and physiatry. An individual suffering from CP will begin to exhibit symptoms and signs related to the condition early in the childhood itself.
Even though CP is not a curable disease and exists for the lifetime of an individual, it is important that the condition is identified in the patient’s early childhood itself to ensure adequate treatment to reduce the intensity of Cerebral Palsy.
Not all children with CP behave the same way. However, it is essential that every individual has a basic knowledge of Cerebral Palsy and how to behave with people affected by the condition before interacting with CP patients.
To help you interact better with CP patients, below are some important things you should know about Cerebral Palsy.
5 Important Things to Know About Cerebral Palsy
There are Different Types of CP
Cerebral Palsy itself is not a specific disease, but instead represents a group of disorders that impact the posture, motion, and balance of an individual. Below we have described some main types of CP.
- Spastic CP: This type of Cerebral Palsy is also known as Pyramidal Cerebral Palsy and affects over 70% of patients facing the condition. Children suffering from this type of CP are hypertonic and will be unable to relax certain body parts. There are three other categories of Spastic CP, namely: Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy, Diplegic Cerebral Palsy, and Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy (Tetraplegic Cerebral Palsy).
- Athetoid CP: Also known as Dyskinetic CP or Extrapyramidal CP. In this type, the sufferer will not be able to control their movements. The body parts will tend to move in a slow and jerky manner.
- Ataxic CP: In this type, the sufferer tends to experience tremors with voluntary movements. Therefore, it becomes harder for them to perform tasks that require concentrated motor controls.
- Mixed CP: As the name suggests, patients suffering from Mixed CP tend to have symptoms indicating more than one type of Cerebral Palsy mentioned above. Spastic and Athetoid CP are the two most commonly occurring combinations of Mixed CP.
CP is Related to Damage in Brain Cells
Cerebral Palsy is a condition that happens due to damage in the human brain. The damage can be caused either during pregnancy or birth. Premature birth, medical errors, IVF, infections faced during pregnancy, birth complications, multiple births, etc. are some of the common reasons for Cerebral Palsy.
CP Needs to be Diagnosed Early
The diagnosis and treatment of Cerebral Palsy must begin in the early years to reduce its intensity. Therefore, parents need to take proper care into the voluntary movements and muscles of the baby and look for symptoms that may indicate any conditions of Cerebral Palsy.
Once any signs are identified, make sure to consult a doctor as soon as possible to get a confirmation.
There are Different Types of Treatments
Every kind of Cerebral Palsy cannot be treated the same way. There are different treatment options, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medication, and even surgery.
The type of treatment required can be identified by analyzing the condition of the sufferer and what works best for them.
They Require Muscle and Brain Stimulation
Cerebral Palsy is a condition that exists due to damage in brain cells and affects the working of body muscles as well. Therefore, it is important to include activities that stimulate their brain and also keeps their muscles active.
Patients facing CP have different interests, and therefore, it is not logical to force them into any activity. Also, if you are a parent to a CP patient, then make sure to include yourself in their actions to improve their interest in what they are doing.
Final Words
As we mentioned in the beginning, not all children facing CP can be approached or treated the same way. As parents and close ones, it is our responsibility to behave friendly and make sure that any child facing CP is appropriately cared for and treated.
We hope you found this article informative. Please keep in mind to consult a professional doctor before taking any medication or treatment for anyone who has Cerebral Palsy.
