~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
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