What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the leading cause of childhood disabilities in the US. CP is an umbrella term for a group of neurological disorders that affect an individual's ability to control their muscles. This can contribute to difficulty with balancing, sitting, walking, and difficulty intentionally moving their arms and legs. Symptoms appear in infancy to early childhood and may be caused by abnormal development of the brain or a severe injury to a developing brain. Some common causes include: gene mutations, infections, exposure to toxic substances, lack of oxygen, or trauma. CP is a lifelong disorder but it is not progressive, meaning it does not get worse with time, and many individuals with CP live long and happy lives.
What does Cerebral Palsy look like?
Individuals with Cerebral Palsy present with a large variety of presentations depending on the severity of their condition and what part of the brain is impacted. Some individuals have very mild CP that is barely noticeable. Because CP impacts the brain's ability to control the muscles, some individuals with CP may have difficulty with balance or walking. These individuals may use things like crutches or a walker to help with their balance, while others may use a wheelchair to help them safely navigate their world. Other things you may see in individuals with CP are difficulty with swallowing and producing clear speech because the muscles in their mouth are also impacted. You may also see their bodies positioned into uncomfortable positions because they have what is called hypertonicity and spasticity in certain muscles. This causes these muscles to be contracted all the time and makes it very difficult for the individual to move out of that position. If one side of the brain is more impacted than the other, an individual with CP may also have a strong preference for reaching with one hand over the other or demonstrate difficulty coordinating one leg while walking. Cerebral Palsy is primarily a physical impairment, but depending on which portion of the brain is impacted, it can sometimes result in cognitive delays as well. However, 50-70% of individuals with cerebral palsy are not cognitively impacted at all!
Tips for Inclusion
Here are a few ways you can make it easier to interact with individuals with Cerebral Palsy:
What does therapy look like for individuals with Cerebral Palsy?
PMC Frederick
4640 Wedgewood Blvd, Suites 101 - 105, Frederick, MD 21703
240-457-9558 tel | 301-739-7453 fax
PMC Hagerstown
1045 Maryland Ave, Hagerstown, MD 21740
301-739-5437 tel | 301-739-7453 fax
PMC Aquatics at Hagerstown
1105 Maryland Ave, Hagerstown, MD 21740
301-739-5437 tel | 301-739-7453 fax