Parent's Guide to Children With Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is an umbrella term signifying a number of disorders, manifested in the brain, that affect the ability of a child to coordinate her body movements and balance. Cerebral palsy is diagnosed in the first few years of an infant's life. This disease causes muscles to be weak or rigid. The Mayo Clinic indicates that about two to four out of 1,000 babies born in Europe and the United States are diagnosed with CP and that premature babies and those born with a low birth weight are at higher risk of developing the disorder.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

• The bad news is that CP has no cure. The good news is that the disease will not progress. The best chance a child has for minimizing or controlling symptoms is early intervention--diagnosing the disease early and getting the child a treatment plan as soon as possible. Cerebral palsy is a disorder that requires long-term care, which is determined by the severity of your child's symptoms. Symptoms of CP range from subtle to severe. If you notice that your child has trouble with muscle coordination; if he looks stiff or seems to have movements resembling muscle spasms or tremors, and difficulty with precise movements; if he drags one leg when he walks, excessively drools or has difficulty swallowing or speaking, be sure to record these characteristics and tell your pediatrician immediately.

Testing

• The Mayo Clinic reports that most children with cerebral palsy are diagnosed by the time they are one or two years of age. However, because symptoms are mild for many children this age, and some of the symptoms of cerebral palsy are consistent with the functioning of a normal baby, it could be difficult to make a definite diagnosis until your child is four or five years old. To test your baby for this disease, depending on her specific symptoms, her neurologist may run a battery of different tests including an ultrasound, MRI, CAT scan, electroencephalogram (EEG) and lab testing. The primary purpose of these tests, however, is not necessarily to diagnose CP, but to rule out the possibility of other diseases and disorders.

  KidsHealth, a division of Nemours Foundation's Center for Children's Health Media, indicates that there are three types of CP: spastic (stiffened muscles), athetoid (sudden muscle movement) and ataxic (poor sense of balance). The most common diagnosis is spastic.

Treatment

• There are three primary approaches to caring for a child with cerebral palsy. Medications are prescribed to relax stiff and contracting muscles. Your doctor may prescribe diazepam (brand name Valium) or baclofen (Lioresal). Botox injected directly into your child's muscles can relax spastic and contracting muscles. Physical therapy will probably be the most crucial factor in your child's ability to cope with his disorder. Physical therapy will help him develop muscles, and build strength, motor development and mobility. Braces or splints can improve her ability to walk, or prevent her muscles from contracting. Occupational therapy will help your child become more independent by incorporating adaptive equipment (i.e. shower chairs and handles, crutches, braces or a wheelchair). Many kids also need speech therapy since their facial muscles, like the rest of their bodies, may be stiff, floppy or spastic. Some kids benefit from using sign language or a communication board. Surgery is reserved for children who have deformities that prevent them from developing in a way that will allow them live independently, and for kids who have exhausted all previous treatment with little or no success.