Cerebral Palsy. My mother has lived with a mild case of this disease since birth.

Cerebral Palsy is a broad term used to describe a group of chronic “palsies –

disorders that impair control of movement -- due to damage to the developing brain. CP

usually develops by age 2 or 3 and is a no progressive brain disorder, meaning it does

not continue to worsen throughout life. However, the symptoms due to the brain

damage often do change over time; sometimes getting better and sometimes getting

worse. CP is one of the most common causes of chronic childhood disability.

(www.webmd.com).

Between 35 and 50 percent of all children with CP will have a seizure disorder

and some level of mental retardation. They may also have learning disabilities and

vision, speech, hearing, or language problems. (www.webmd.com).

There are three types of CP:

Spastic CP, the most common, is a disorder in which certain muscles are stiff and weak.
Dyskinetic, or athetotic, CP generally involves impairment of voluntary muscle control.

Mixed CP is a combination of the two previous classifications. (www.webmd.com).

Much remains unknown about the disorder’s causes, but evidence supports

theories that infections, during pregnancy may damage a fetus’ developing nervous

system. These include rubella (German measles), (a herpes – type virus), (an infection

caused by a parasite that can be carried in cat feces or inadequately cooked meat).

(http://www.cdc.com).

Some other causes are:

Severe jaundice in the infant.

Rh incompatibility between mother and infant.

The physical and metabolic trauma of being born, and

Severe oxygen deprivation to the brain.

A full neurological exam is critical. In older people, testing cognitive function is

also important.

Treatment:

There is no cure for cerebral palsy. The goal of treatment is to help the person be as

Independent as possible. (http://www.mayoclinic.com)

After my research of this disease I can only assume my mother has a very mild

case of this disease. I continue to be curious, because I see know characteristic traits

in my mother, that I have seen in other people with this disease.

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