Cerebral Palsy Characteristics

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurological condition that makes it difficult for people to perform everyday tasks. The effects of the condition depend on the extent of damage to the brain that occurs while in the womb, during childbirth or shortly after being born. According to kidshealth.org, because the brain is damaged in those with CP, it does not function as normal in telling the body's muscles how and when to move. What parts of the body (i.e.,right leg, left leg, right arm, left arm, vision) that are affected most by CP depends on what part of the brain is damaged and how severe it is.

Differences

• CP affects everyone differently. According to kidshealth.org, the effects of the condition can be mild to severe. Some must use a wheelchair for movement. Others can walk with the use of crutches, braces or a walker. Still others can walk independently. Some have difficulty speaking or cannot talk at all. According to the Mayo Clinic, CP can make some muscles weak and floppy, while others are stiff and rigid. Some people with CP have drooling or swallowing problems. Others may experience tremors or have difficulty holding a pen to write or are unable to button a shirt. Severe CP may result in mental retardation or seizures. Those with more mild cases may not have any effect at all in their intellect.

Similarities

• By breaking down the term cerebral palsy, kidshealth.org better explains what it means for those stricken with the condition. "Cerebral" means the condition affects the brain. "Palsy" means there is a weakness of the muscles and a change in the way a person's body moves. Some type of brain damage, muscle abnormality and problems with balance and motor skills is common to all who have CP. Those who are able to walk have a distinct gait with a dragging foot often turned to the side, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Types

• The three main types of CP are spastic, athetoid and ataxic, according to kidshealth.org. Most people have spastic CP, which means their muscles are constantly moving or may become stiff. People with athetoid CP have less control over muscle movement, so the legs or arms can shake or flex uncontrollably. Ataxic CP refers to people who have severe difficulty in balancing and performing simple motor skills. Often, people are diagnosed with a mixture of types.

Risks

• According to kidshealth.org, being born too early is the biggest risk of a baby acquiring CP. If a baby is born before 37 weeks, the possibility of having CP is greater, according to the Mayo Clinic. Kidshealth.org reveals that most babies develop CP while still in the womb, but it isn't yet exactly clear why CP occurs in some situations. As of 2008, according to the Mayo Clinic, two to four babies out of every 1,000 that are born in the United States and Europe have CP. Other risk factors include low birth weight, breech birth, multiple birth, exposure of the mother to toxic substances and poor maternal health (i.e., thyroid issues, mental retardation or seizures).

Good to Know

• Kidshealth.org stresses that CP is not contagious. You are not going to "catch" CP just by being around a person who has it. The website also explains there isn't a clear-cut test for CP. Doctors often rely on constant observation of the symptoms and motor development of a baby as it gets older in order to make a diagnosis. CP is not a condition that gets progressively worse. If a child's leg muscles are most affected by CP, this is how it will always be. He will not develop arm muscle problems later on. Although CP cannot be cured, continual occupational, physical or speech therapy to loosen and strengthen muscles can be beneficial.