Cerebral Palsy by

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Laci_W — 2023-12-08 01:31:07 UTC

Cerebral palsy is a physical disability where the person with the diagnosis has trouble controlling their muscles. It's possibly the most apparent motor disability at birth. There are multiple kinds of cerebral palsy affecting different muscle groups.

Symptoms

Laci_W — 2023-12-08 01:41:21 UTC

There are a plethora of symptoms for those diagnosed with CP. Incontinence, hearing loss, seizures, and painful touch or the loss of sensation are some general symptoms. Some may experience difficulty in developing speech, growth, and mental and physical milestones. They may struggle with chewing, sucking, swallowing and keeping saliva in their mouths. The main symptoms of CP are all involved in the muscles, such as stiff muscles and exaggerated reflexes, jerky or slow movements, issues with walking or finer motor movements in general, a lack of balance and variations in muscle tone across the body. CP may range from lower body to upper body or may span across all muscles. People with CP may favor one side of their body, selecting a dominant side to achieve most tasks.

What Causes Cerebral Palsy?

Laci_W — 2023-12-08 01:44:54 UTC

Cerebral Palsy can develop in the womb. Some risk factors for congenital CP include a low birth weight, premature births, infections the mother may have had during pregnancy and other various birth complications. Babies can develop it as early as 48 hours after birth; a telltale sign being jaundice, which can cause damage to the newborn's brain if not treated and is severe enough. Head injuries can also cause CP.

Treatment and Inclusion in the Classroom

Laci_W — 2023-12-08 01:55:57 UTC

There is no cure for cerebral palsy unfortunately, but there are treatment plans that can assist a person with any form of CP throughout their entire life. Physical, speech and occupational therapy can all greatly assist a person with CP. Assistive devices such as arm and/or leg braces may aid in their journey to walking without these. Special chairs for sitting, vocal keyboards and special wheelchairs may also help depending on the severity. Medication and medical interventions may help if none of the other options do. Depending on the severity of the condition, this child may bring an abundance of challenges to the classroom. Giving them enough space to safely maneuver may be tough as class sizes continue to grow. They most likely will need an IEP and/or an IFSP throughout their education. Having the appropriate technology to assist in any speech difficulties is crucial. They would bring some valuable discussions to the classroom and would help teach other children about disabilities. Patience and kindness are needed for every child, but for a friend who may struggle to quickly maneuver tight spaces or may take a little extra time saying their thoughts is absolutely needed, and it's a great thing to give kids this idea and experience early on.

A Video Summary

Laci_W — 2023-12-08 01:59:59 UTC