Cerebral Palsy Causes and Risks

What are the signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy? Impairment of muscle tone: The ability of muscles to work together is lost, leading to increased or decreased muscle tone.Limbs become floppy with decreased muscle tone or become rigid with increased tone. Impairment of movement coordination and control: Impairment of muscles lead to gait disturbances and the child may drag a leg or bend over and walk. Gait disturbances include: Limping – more weight is placed on one foot than the other,…

What are the risk factors for cerebral palsy? Congenital (at birth) cerebral palsy risk factors include: Low birth weight Premature birth Multiple births (It can be twins, triplets or more) Infertility treatments undergone by parents Infections during pregnancy Jaundice Birth complications  Medical condition of mother Acquired (after birth) cerebral palsy risk factors include: Brain infections Injury   

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder, which impairs movement and coordination. It is caused by abnormality or damage to the part of the brain – the cerebral cortex - that controls movement. It can be congenital or acquired early in life. It is non-progressive and does not worsen over time.   Part of the brain affected in cerebral palsy When does this damage to the brain occur? Damage that causes cerebral palsy can occur: Before birth During birth Within a month after birth During…

If your child is behind on the developmental milestones, it is important to act as early as possible. Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, a Special Educator and Rehabilitation specialist, tells you why and what it involves. Human learning and development is most rapid in the preschool years. This is the time of ‘Maximum Readiness’ and is very important, especially if the child has a delay in development/a disability/high risk of attaining a delay or disability. If the ‘most…

His parents were told he was mentally retarded, but Siddharth Jayakumar – bank manager, motivational speaker and award-winning role model for the disabled – proved them all wrong. Here, his life and learnings. 1.  Please tell us briefly how you developed Cerebral Palsy (CP). What was your physical condition - your abilities and your limitations?  I developed CP following an attack of jaundice when I was a few days old. This affected my physical movements and clarity of speech. It also…

As we wait for Kalki Koechlin’s portrayal of a gutsy girl with Cerebral Palsy in the award-winning film Margarita with a Straw, we find out more about the condition from rehabilitation specialist Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan. The film releases on 17th April 2015.  Cerebral Palsy is a birth-related disorder that affects the brain and nervous system. The nerve damage causes difficulties in the child’s movement, coordination, posture and ability to walk. It can also affect speech,…