Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy (also known as CP): is a disorder caused by abnormal brain development often before birth. Treatment can help, but there the disorder cannot be cured. Majority of the people with CP have problems with posture and movement. Many have other related conditions with: vision, hearing, speech, intellectual disability

There are more than 200,000 cases per year in the United states per the Mayo Clinic
CP is the most common motor disability in childhood
CP is more common in boys than girls
CP was more common in Black children than White children. Hispanic and White children are equal in likelihood of having CP
More than half (58.2%) of the children affected by CP could walk independently

There are two kinds of CP:

Congenital CP: is the most common form of CP (85-90%) that occurs before birth. There is no known specific cause.

Acquired CP: is caused by brain damage usually more than 28 days after birth. The causes are usually associated with a head injury or infection (such as meningitis)

There are four types of CP:

Spastic CP: the most common type of CP (80% of cases). Individuals with Spastic CP have increased muscle tone, so as a result their muscles are stiff.

Dyskinetic CP (also includes athetoid, choreoathetoid, and dystonic cerebral palsies): individuals with this type of CP have problems controlling their movement with: hands, arms, legs, & feet. Making it difficult to walk and sit. Sometimes their face and tongue are also affected causes issues with talking and swallowing

Ataxic CP: individuals with this type of CP have problems with coordination and balance

Mixed CP: individuals have more than one type of CP, most common type of mixed is Spastic-Dyskinetic CP

Treatment: Treatment will vary depending on the type of CP and the individual’s needs. Treatment typically is one of the follow or combination of: self-care, therapies (occupational, & physical), medications (sedatives & muscles relaxers), some cases surgery, and specialists

Early Signs Per CDC:

The signs of CP vary greatly because there are many different types and levels of disability. The main sign that a child might have CP is a delay reaching motor or movement milestones (such as rolling over, sitting, standing, or walking). Following are some other signs of possible CP. It is important to note that some children without CP also might have some of these signs.

In a Baby Younger Than 6 Months of Age

His head lags when you pick him up while he’s lying on his back
He feels stiff
He feels floppy
When held cradled in your arms, he seems to overextend his back and neck, constantly acting as if he is pushing away from you
When you pick him up, his legs get stiff and they cross or scissor
mother holding daughter

In a Baby Older Than 6 Months of Age

She doesn’t roll over in either direction
She cannot bring her hands together
She has difficulty bringing her hands to her mouth
She reaches out with only one hand while keeping the other fisted

In a Baby Older Than 10 Months of Age

He crawls in a lopsided manner, pushing off with one hand and leg while dragging the opposite hand and leg
He scoots around on his buttocks or hops on his knees, but does not crawl on all fours

Berks County Resources:

Service Access Management (SAM)

Address: 19 N 6th St # 300, Reading, PA 19601
Phone: (610) 236-0530
Website: http://www.sam-inc.org/

Easter Seals Eastern PA-Berks Division.

90 George Street. Reading, PA. 19605. # 610-775-1431.
http://www.easterseals.com/esep/
The programs have early interventions/developmental screenings. For children to adults with disabilities of autism, CP, PDD, Downs Syndrome, etc.

https://www.cptherapy.com/resources

Lehigh County Resources:

Easter Seals Eastern PA, Lehigh Valley Division.

1501 Lehigh Street. Allentown, Pa 18103. # 610-289-0114.
http://www.easterseals.com/esep/
The programs have early interventions/developmental screenings. For children to adults with disabilities of autism, CP, PDD, Downs Syndrome, etc.

Other Resources:

Cerebral Palsy Assoc. Chester

Address: 749 Springdale Dr. Exton, PA 19341
Phone: (610) 524-5850
Website: https://www.ccdisability.org/

United Cerebral Palsy

Address: 250 Peacock St, Pottsville, PA 17901
Phone: (570) 622-1371
Website: http://www.avenuesofpa.org/

References:

Facts About Cerebral Palsy. (2015, July 13). Retrieved March 25, 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/cp/facts.html

Mayo Clinic Staff Print. (2016, August 25). Overview. Retrieved March 25, 2017, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cerebral-palsy/home/ovc-20236549