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15 Things You Should Know About Cerebral Palsy

Welcome to this article and let’s journey together as we get to understand and know more about Cerebral Palsy. Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a disorder that affects motor functioning in different parts of the body such as legs, hands, etc.

Many people misunderstand this condition and don’t know exactly what it is. In this article, we have looked at 15 things you should know about cerebral palsy, such as its cause, and how to manage the condition among others.

If interested to know more about Cerebral (CP)keep scrolling to the end. Here are the 15 things you should know about Cerebral Palsy;

1. Cerebral Palsy is More Common Among Boys than Girls

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Cerebral palsy affects children mostly during pregnancy period or during childbirth. It is good to note there are other causes of Cerebral Palsy ( CP) such as injuries, premature birth, etc.

In each group of 345 children, one of them is said to be affected by CP according to CDC’S Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring. The boy child is said to be affected in a high percentage compared to a girl child.

2. A Big Percentage of Children with Cerebral Palsy Have Spastic Cerebral Palsy

CP is classified into four types including Spastic cerebral Palsy, Mixed CP, Ataxic Cerebral palsy, and Dyskinetic CP.

Spastic CP is the most common CP that affects many kids. It is estimated about 80% of people with CP have spastic CP. Spastic CP increases muscle tone hence making one’s movement awkward.

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3. Most Cerebral Palsy is Related to Brain Damage Called Congenital Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is caused by abnormal development of the brain or damage and can either happen before or after birth and is called Congenital CP. Congenital CP makes children to be unable to control their muscles.

Around 85% – 90% with motor disability are affected by congenital Cerebral Palsy. However, in some of the CP cases, their cause is unknown. There are several factors that can lead to the risk increment of congenital CP such as being born underweight, born prematurely, etc.

4. Mostly Cerebral Palsy Cases are Diagnosed During the First or Second Year After Birth

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Since CP affects children from birth period to 1 year, sometimes it can be hard to know when a child is affected. Mostly the disorder is diagnosed between the 1^st year and 2^nd year of child development when some of the kid’s developmental delays.

5. Adults Cannot be Affected by Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is a disorder that affects children, mostly before birth, during birth, or up to one year after birth. Sometimes the disorder is not noticed early until the child’s developmental delays.

Adults do not get cerebral palsy, a motor disability that may affect one during adulthood is never considered as cerebral palsy. It is good to know that you can’t be affected by CP at any age, is only for children before or after birth approximately up to 1 year.

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6. The Disorder is Not Hereditary

The interesting part about this disorder is that it is not genetic. A parent suffering from CP can’t pass motor disability to his\her children.

This simply means a parent suffering from cerebral palsy can give birth to a healthy baby like normal human beings.

7. Cerebral Palsy is the Most Common Childhood Motor Disability

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Motor disability in children can be caused by different disorders. However, Cerebral Palsy is the most common motor disability in children. Most children with difficulties in moving their body parts such as hands, arms, and legs are caused by Cp.

It is important to note that just because many children with motor problems have CP doesn’t mean there are no other disorders causing motor disabilities. Motor disability affects children suffering from Muscular dystrophy and dyspraxia as well.

8. There are 4 Different Types of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy affects children differently and each has a special disability. CP is classified depending on which area of the brain is affected. It is classified into 4 different types including Mixed, Ataxic, Dyskinetic, and Spastic.

Dyskinetic CP is where a person has problems controlling movements of legs, arms, feet, or hands while Spastic CP is the common CP and it increases muscle tone and once movement can be awkward.

People with ataxic CP always have problems controlling and coordinating and they may be unsteady while walking while Mixed CP individuals have signs of more than one CP type.

9. Cerebral Palsy Can Affect the Face

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Even though cerebral Palsy is known to affect the legs mostly, it can as well affect other body parts such as the arms and face.

Since CP can affect the face, it would be surprising to be told it can affect oral muscles as well. Mostly when the disorder affects facial muscles, it affects one’s speech ability, chewing, and swallowing as well.

It is important to note that just because one talking ability has been affected by cerebral palsy does not mean they can’t hear or understand you.

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10. Many People with Cerebral Palsy Can Walk

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As we all know cerebral palsy affects a child’s motor control. However, some children will learn how to walk and run by improving their neuroplasticity through repetitive training. Children affected by cerebral palsy walk a bit later than other kids though.

It is good to note not all children with CP a lucky to walk on their own, some walk with the help of walkers or leg braces. Others use wheelchairs to ease their movement around.

11. Cerebral Palsy Can Worsen if not Properly Managed

It is important to be aware of cerebral palsy management. If CP is not properly taken care of it can worsen offer time. The brain damage doesn’t increase but secondary effects like high muscle tone known as spasticity can worsen over time.

If the spasticity is unmanaged and becomes worse it can restrict movement for children who were walking as well as causing pain. There are many ways to manage cerebral palsy such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, and medications among others.

12. Cerebral Palsy is a Life-Long Condition

The saddest fact about Cerebral Palsy is that it is a life-long condition. This simply means brain damage that leads to Cerebral Palsy condition remains within you forever.

However, the brain has the ability to refix itself through thorough training that focuses on repetitions and improves neuroplasticity. When neuroplasticity is promoted cerebral palsy individuals better motor functioning.

Early training to improve motor function is advocated since children’s brains have higher levels of plasticity compared to adult brains.

13. It is Hard to Prevent Cerebral Palsy

In many children’s cases of CP, their cause is never fully known which makes it difficult to prevent Cp. You can never develop preventative measures for a disorder without knowing the full cause.

However, there are measures one can take during pregnancy and after pregnancy like attending all clinics and taking necessary meditation as well as preventing the baby from injuries after birth since it might cause CP, etc.

14. Specific Cause of Cerebral Palsy in Most Children is Unknown

Scientists have researched had given several causes of Cerebral Palsy, however, in most cases the cause of Cerebral Palsy in many children is unknown.

Initially, most people believed Cerebral Palsy was caused by insufficient oxygen during childbirth but scientists now think only a few children are affected through this process. This condition can happen during pregnancy, during birth, or even a month after birth or during the first year of child growth.

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15. Premature Birth May Cause Cerebral Palsy

There are many causes of cerebral palsy and premature birth is one of them. 50% of people affected by the condition are born prematurely. In the United States of America, Premature birth causes most cerebral palsy conditions. However, it is good to note even full-term babies can develop cerebral Palsy.

Other factors that may result in a child developing cerebral palsy are medical problems during pregnancy or time of birth and illnesses or injuries as an infant including jaundice, brain infections strokes, etc.