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Welcome to Cerebral Symptoms

Thank you for stopping by our site. CerebralSymptoms.com exists to give you a place where you can find all you need to know about this condition known as Cerebral Palsy.

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a disorder that affects the body's muscle tone, movement, and motor skills. Cerebral means having to do with the brain. Palsy means problems with use of muscles. This condition often leads to other health issues, such as vision, hearing, and speech problems, and learning disabilities.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

CP is usually caused by brain damage occurring before or during the child's birth. Or it may occur during the first 3 to 5 years of a child's life. The brain damage may happen during labor and delivery. It may happen as a result of a premature birth. Other causes are known to be lead poisoning, bacterial meningitis, malnutrition, or being shaken as an infant. This type of brain damage can also happen to child due to a fall or a car accident. There is no cure for CP, however there are treatment, therapy, special equipment, and, in some cases, surgery, all of which can help a child who suffers from the condition.

What are the Signs?

The most common signs of cerebral palsy are summed up in three types of the condition:

1) Spastic CP is where there is too much muscle tone or tightness. Movements are stiff, especially in the legs, arms, and/or back. This is the most common form of CP.

2) Athetoid CP can affect all the movements of the body. This form of CP involves slow, uncontrolled body movements that make it difficult for the person to sit straight and walk.

3) Mixed CP is a combination of the symptoms listed. A child with mixed CP has both high and low tone muscle creating a mix of stiffness and involuntary movements.

Cerebral palsy treatment is being updated, changed and refined on a continuing basis. From what is available in physical therapy, to what can be done through occupational and speech therapy, you'll find all the facts and information by browsing through this site.

On this site, you'll also discover organizations and support groups which exist to help families who are facing this condition. Let us be your source for all the information you need regarding cerebral palsy