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Cerebral Palsy is a disability that affects the brain and the movements of your arms, legs or even your speech. This condition can develop due to lack of oxygen or an injury to the brain before, during or shortly after birth. The definition of Cerebral Palsy is “Cerebral Palsy n: a disability resulting from damage to the brain before, during, or shortly after birth and outwardly manifested by muscular incoordination and speech disturbances” Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, 1995 Edition
Cerebral Palsy is caused by a brain injury before during, or shortly after birth. A lack of oxygen can also cause this. If the mother has high blood pressure, diabetes or a physical accident during pregnancy, it can cause Cerebral Palsy in the offspring. Cerebral Palsy can also result from premature birth.
There are four types of Cerebral Palsy. Spastic, Ataxic, Athetoid also known as Dyskinetic and Mixed. In the spastic type the muscles are very tight making it hard to reach something or be able to put the object down accurately. In the Ataxic type, the muscle tone is very low and coordination is poor which makes a person very unsteady. This person has very flaccid arms, legs and head. Someone with Athetoid Cerebral Palsy has both high and low tone. The tone level changes, which makes it difficult even to hold onto a toothbrush. You may notice that they make random involuntary movements. Their whole body may shake for no reason at all. In the Mixed type, some muscles have high tone while others have very low tone.
There are three ways Cerebral Palsy can affect the body. These are quadriplegia, hemiplegia and diplegia. In quadriplegia, all four limbs are involved. Hemiplegia affects half side of the body while the other half is normal. In Diplegia, the legs are affected solely or the legs are affected more than the arms.
I have had Cerebral Palsy since I was born. I was born twelve weeks
premature. I weighed 1 pound 14 ounces. Due to premature birth
and lack of oxygen, I acquired a disability called Cerebral Palsy.
I have the spastic, quadriplegic type. My upper and lower limbs are affected
and do not move very smoothly. My movements are very jerky at times.
It is more noticeable in my legs than my arms. I am not able to stretch
my arms out all the way like an airplane because my muscles are too tight.
I can walk with assistance only. A good example to explain how tight
my muscles are in my legs and arms is take a rubber band and pull on it
so it is tight and then release the tension. This is how my muscles
react all day long. So it is very difficult for me to accomplish
simple tasks such as, holding a pencil, turning pages in a book and writing
my name. I am only able to print my first and last name. When
I do write my name it probably takes me about three minutes or more. “About
500,000 people in America have some form of CP. Each year 8,000 infants
and nearly 1,500 preschool-age children are diagnosed with CP.” The National
Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities April 2000
Publication “Cerebral Palsy Fact Sheet Number 2 (FS2), May 2000”
There are various therapies available for people with Cerebral Palsy such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and recreational therapy. Physical therapy can enhance the ability of movement. Occupational therapy develops the skills to perform daily functions. Speech and language therapy develops the muscles of articulation. Recreational therapy provides the skills to participate in casual activities or sports.
At present someone with Cerebral Palsy can lead a very productive life
by undergoing various therapies and utilizing the resources available to
him/her. It depends on the individual person’s desire and determination
to reach their level of independence.
