Cerebral+Palsy


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=Research summaries:= “What is Cerebral Palsy?" //Cerebral Palsy and Special Needs Children's Organization. Help, Support and Information about Cerebral Palsy - 4MyChild//. Web. 22 Feb. 2010. . Cerebral palsy is a muscle disorder affecting mainly movement and posture. It can be caused by an injury or lack of oxygen to the brain at childbirth or later in life, although this is uncommon. There are three main types of cerebral palsy: spastic, which causes stiff movement and makes things much more difficult to do, ataxic, which causes poor depth perception and sometimes loss of balance; and [|athetoid/dyskinetic], which usually causes uncontrolled movements. “Mixed” cerebral palsy describes conditions where there is a mix of two or more of the above types. These types of cerebral palsy can have very mild symptoms, such as minor difficulty moving, to seizures, requiring a wheelchair, and possibly mental retardation. Esherick, Joan. //Breaking Down Barriers//. Broomall: Mason Crest, 2008. Print. About 10,000 babies born each year have or develop cerebral palsy. Eighty percent of those with cerebral palsy developed it within one month of birth and is one of the most costly birth defects to take care of. There is no cure for cerebral palsy, but its symptoms are treatable. Physical and speech therapy is available to help with muscle conditions or a speech impediment. Braces, splints, casts, etc., are available to help without requiring surgery. Surgery is also possible to loosen tendons and realign bones. Wheelchairs are available to help daily movement for those with severe cerebral palsy. [Ted Geistlinger]