Seeing your child not doing activities compared to other children brings many questions to the parents’ minds. But you don’t have to force or push your child to do the same as every child is different. This is common among most children based on different factors which makes them different from normal children. The major reason behind this is Cerebral Palsy. It is the most common disability found in children, yet the topic remains misunderstood by many people, or their unwillingness to understand makes the situation worse.
As per the study, 2-3 children in every 1000 live births are affected by Cerebral Palsy in India, which correlates with the statistics of India. It reflects that are 100,000 children found with CP at any time in India. It is a neurological disorder that affects or creates problems in movement and posture, presenting itself in several forms. The severity depends on the variation of its impact on the child’s body. It is pivotal for you to understand the impact of CP on a child whether you are a parent, caregiver, or educator so that early treatment can be provided for leading an active life.
In this article, we will develop a brief understanding of Cerebral Palsy in Children and its impact-
What is Cerebral Palsy?
“Cerebral” refers to the brain, and “Palsy” refers to weakness or problems with muscle control. While CP doesn’t worsen over time, it is a lifelong condition.
Children prone to cerebral palsy have trouble controlling the movement of their muscles. At its core, it is a group of disorders that affect the ability of the child to maintain a posture or balance the body. This can occur at any time as it is caused by brain damage either before birth, during birth, or after birth in a short span. The damage hits that part of the brain which manages or controls the movement of muscles. Children suffering from CP are unable to process the signal passed from the brain to muscles which hampers their functioning. In simple terms, the brain’s signals to the muscles are disrupted, making it challenging for children to control and coordinate muscles. It requires immediate treatment or therapies as per the need of a child from early intervention and diagnosis.
Types of Cerebral Palsy
One treatment does not diagnose all the problems of cerebral palsy as it can affect any type of muscle in the body. Thus, Cerebral Palsy is not a one-size-fits-all diagnosis. We have different types of diagnoses of cerebral palsy having different characteristics impacting children effectively. Here are some of the cerebral palsy are-
1. Spastic Cerebral Palsy: Most children are prone to Spastic Cerebral Palsy as it is a common type of CP. Approximately 70-80% of the cases are prone to CP which makes their muscles stiff, tights, and exaggerated reflexes. It affects their limbs which makes them unable to move smoothly.
2. Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy: Children prone to dyskinetic CP have issues with twisting or jerking motions while facing problems in maintaining their posture. It is characterized by uncontrolled and involuntary movements.
3. Ataxic Cerebral Palsy: A child’s coordination and balance are affected by Ataxic Cerebral Palsy. They have trouble with balancing, depth perception, and fine motor skills.
4. Mixed Cerebral Palsy: a child faces a different set of challenges that proves to be unique as it is a combination of the above types of issues.
The Causes of Cerebral Palsy
As we already said, Cerebral palsy can take any time before, during, or after birth in early development. The primary causes of the CP are-
- Prenatal Factors: problems encountered during pregnancy by mothers such as inflection like rubella, exposure to toxins, or maternal health conditions can lead to the risk of Cerebral palsy. As per the the reposts, around 12-15% of babies born in India are preterm which makes them prone to higher risks of developing such conditions.
- Birth Complications: Premature birth, lack of oxygen during delivery, or trauma during birth can all contribute to CP.
- Postnatal Factors: This is rare in most cases as infections and brain injuries in the early stages of life can lead to cerebral palsy.
Though the exact cause may be unclear in many cases, the key takeaway is that CP is not caused by anything the parents did or didn’t do.
Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy
The symptoms of CP differ from child to child as they vary distinctly. However, some of the common signs are as follows-
- Delayed Milestones: Children with Cerebral Palsy have issues with rolling over, sitting, and walking as they find it dealy in their developmental milestones as compared to other children.
- Muscle Stiffness: Muscles of children feel stills or tight when touched when they suffer from spastic cerebral palsy.
- Involuntary Movements: Jerky, writhing, or twisting movements may be seen in children with dyskinetic CP.
- Poor Coordination: difficulty in coordination and balancing takes place in Ataxic cerebral palsy which makes activities like grasping and walking quite challenging.
Treatment and Support
Cerebral palsy has no cure as the only way to deal with this is to adopt several ways to manage these symptoms and improve quality of life. A different combination of therapies could help in achieving better results. Some of the therapies include-
1. Physical Therapy: physical therapies are meant to improve the functionality of muscles as they focus on enhancing core strength, motor skills, and flexibility. A physical therapist could help in improving the range of functionality in their motion and mobility.
2. Occupational Therapy: These ensure that the desired skills of children are developed so that they can perform their daily activities such as dressing, brushing their teeth, and feeding themselves.
3. Speech Therapy: Speech therapy as the name reveals improves communication and feeding. It enables children to develop their speaking skills and remove issues with swallowing.
4. Medications: medication and muscle relaxants are prescribed to children to manage their symptoms and control involuntary movements. Muscle relaxants or medications to control involuntary movements can be prescribed to manage symptoms.
5. Surgery: Surgical intervention could have been recommended in some cases s that muscle contractures could be corrected and mobility could be improved.
A Positive Outlook: Encouraging Growth and Independence
No child can be defined by his capabilities or the problems that he is suffering from. So it is essential to remember that though cerebral palsy is chronic and presents a lifelong challenge but it doesn’t define your child. There are several children with CP who grow highly active and fulfill every aspect of their lives. If you provide consistent support, showcase your understanding, and a tailored approach to therapy, a child with CP can move ahead of every milestone.
The most common phrase that resonates with cerebral palsy is “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” though the path is difficult and challenging, your determination, support, and resilience will help your child to overcome issues of CP and overcome every obstacle that could help in leading meaningful lives.
The Importance of Early Intervention
Early intervention leads to early diagnosis!!!
It is key when we talk about the treatment of Cerebral Palsy as the earlier a child receives therapy, the higher he has chances of improving mobility of muscles and quality of life. “A stitch in time saves nine” — by addressing issues early, parents can significantly reduce the long-term effects of CP.
The Road Ahead: Hope and Support
Living with cerebral palsy is not easy but understanding patience and love can help you in living up to your expectations. With the right support, modern medicines, and therapies, children with CP can meet and achieve remarkable things in life. For a child with CP, support from friends, family, and educators is significant as it makes them informed about the latest therapies and treatment options available to them.
In Nutshell, cerebral palsy is a complex condition but with the right approach, a child can achieve their potential easily. It is about taking the right step at the right time while creating a peaceful environment that helps in promoting independence and growth. A child with cerebral palsy might walk a different path from other children but the path should be full of beliefs, opportunities, and as bright as their future.
At Cradle Children Hospital, we ensure that every child is treated rightly with cerebral palsy so that they can grow up leading their lives full of possibilities that help them reach their potential. “Every journey begins with a single step”, and for children with CP, those steps can lead to extraordinary achievements.
If your child is having problems in their functionality, mobility, or movements, we are here to assist you and guide you towards a better future ahead.