Written by: Kyle Hennessy
What is the Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral Palsy is a group of disorders that tells people’s muscles to tighten up and they can’t move. Cerebral palsy is caused before birth by oxygen deprivation. Cerebral palsy is a long term condition that can be treated but can not be cured. Signs and symptoms can show up during infancy years.
The babies can be checked by a Family Medicine doctor to find out if they have cerebral palsy. The doctor can refer them to Rehabilitation Medicine, Neurosurgery, and Orthopedic specialists. If they are seen by them, the specialists will be working with parents and kids to develop their plans. For example, the kids will see their Physical, Occupational, and Speech therapists.
The physicians will be checking for early signs of Cerebral Palsy:
Delayed Development: the physicians may notice the baby not crawling, walking, or sitting up.
Muscles Tone: the physicians will move the patients’ arms or legs to tell if their arms and legs are tight or floppy.
Posture: the doctors watch to see if the kids crawl using one side of their body.
Hearing and Vision: The doctors check to see if they struggle with hearing and vision.
How do physicians diagnose their patients with Cerebral Palsy?
They do the physical assessment all over the body to see if they have spasticity muscles.
The doctors order the MRI to see what the kids’ brain damage looks like.
The doctor orders the CT Scan to see if their patients’ brain injury is to the area of the brain associated with balance and movement.
What causes Cerebral Palsy?
The babies can develop Cerebral Palsy before or after their birth due to having a brain bleed, seizure, brain infection, body shock, or genetic conditions.
How do the physicians treat the kids and adults who have Cerebral Palsy?
They can give them Botox or Phenol Shots to help their muscles relax.
They can do some types of surgeries. For example, they can do orthopedic surgery, SDR Surgery, and neurosurgery.
They can prescribe medication, wheelchairs, braces or casts, and communication devices.
How many people have Cerebral Palsy in the United States?
Around 764,000 people in the United States have Cerebral Palsy which includes kids and adults. There are about 10,000 babies with CP.
How to get involved in the CP Awareness month event?
During the month of March, you can support your family members or friends who have Cerebral Palsy.
Wear your green clothes to show support.
Make your donation to the research.
Spread the word on social media platforms.
Take your family or friends to awareness events for cerebral palsy.
Help your family member or friend to host their own party.
Public figures who have Cerebral Palsy:
Josh Blue, comedian
Maysoon Zayid, actor
Zach Anner, comedian and actor
Geri Jewell, actor
References
Mayo Clinic:
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2021, September 1). Cerebral palsy. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cerebral-palsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20353999
Gillette Children’s
What is cerebral palsy?: Gillette Children’s. What is Cerebral Palsy? | Gillette Children’s. (n.d.). https://www.gillettechildrens.org/conditions-care/cerebral-palsy/what-is-cerebral-palsy
Public figures with Cerebral Palsy
10 famous people with cerebral palsy. Discover Walks Blog. (2023, February 28). https://www.discoverwalks.com/blog/world/10-famous-people-with-celebral-palsy/
Statistics of people with Cerebral Palsy
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, May 2). Data and statistics for Cerebral Palsy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/cp/data.html
Cerebral Palsy events
Written by Mary Ellen Ellis Mary Ellen Ellis has been writing for CerebralPalsyGuidance.com since 2016. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds undergraduate and graduate science degrees. As a f. (2023, February 28). March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness month. Cerebral Palsy Guidance. https://www.cerebralpalsyguidance.com/2023/02/28/march-is-cerebral-palsy-awareness-month/