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Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy (CP) affects many people all over the world.  700,000 adults and children have the condition in America. Cerebral palsy is a physical disability.  CP occurs when an injury happens to the brain during, before or after birth.   "Cerebral" refers to the brain and "palsy" to the lack of motor control. In some cases, there may be seizure, mental retardation, and impairment of sight, hearing or speech. The degree of involvement varies.

    Cerebral Palsy is not progressive, communicable, inherited or a primary cause of death. Nor is it "curable" in the accepted sense, although an individual with cerebral palsy often responds to training and therapies. It is not a disease and should never be referred to as such.  It is a condition.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

       Cerebral Palsy is caused by damage to the brain.   This damage can be caused by

"RH Incompatibility": A blood conflict between mother and unborn baby may occur if a certain element -RH factor- is missing in the mother's blood and is present in the father.

Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome - This rare genetic defect causes one type of cerebral palsy.

Mother's Illness - Certain  diseases (such as German Measles) in the mother can seriously affect the unborn baby.

Severe Lack of Oxygen - If a baby doesn't get oxygen for a long time (for example, due to complications in labor), cerebral palsy may result.

Cerebral Palsy Symptoms

   CP affects people very differently.  The symptoms depends on where and how much damage was done to the brain.  There are rarely two people who have the same CP. 

Some signs may be: Poor muscle control Hearing  and vision impairments Speech impairment Seizures Minority of people with CP have Mental Retardation Lack of balance