Treatments and/or preventions

Treatment

There is no cure for cerebral palsy and current treatment options can only reduce the disabilities associated with cerebral palsy. The therapy regimen is tailored to meet the specific needs of an individual and it differs from one individual to other

A multidisciplinary team of health care professionals develops a treatment plan in close coordination with patients, families, teachers and caregivers. A pediatrician, pediatric neurologist, or pediatric physical therapist provides primary care to children suffering from cerebral palsy whereas a family doctor, neurologist or physiatrist provides primary care to adults suffering from cerebral palsy.

Other specialists in the team may include: An orthopedic surgeon to predict, diagnose and treat associated muscle, tendon and bone problems. A physical therapist to design and supervise special exercise programs for improving movement and strength. Speech and language pathologist to diagnose and treat communication problems. An occupational therapist to help the patient learn life skills for home, school and work. A social worker to help patients and their families obtain community assistance, education and training programs. A psychologist to help address negative or destructive behaviors of patient. Guide the patient and his/her family through the stresses and demands presented by cerebral palsy Preventions: You can prevent cp during and after pregnancy in your baby Eat nutritious foods. Do not smoke. Avoid exposure to harmful substances. See your doctor regularly. Also, help prevent CP in your young child by minimizing your child's risk for sustaining a brain injury.  prevent accidents. Make sure you are familiar with the signs of jaundice in newborns.  prevent lead poisoning. Keep your child away from people who have serious contagious illnesses, such as meningitis. Make sure your child's immunizations are up-to-date.

Characteristics of Cerebral Palsy

Characteristics:

Lack of coordination

Spasticity

Muscle tightness or spasm

Involuntary movement

Different walking patterns

Speech impairment

Difficulty with gross & fine motor skills

Abnormal perception & sensation

Cerebral Palsy in babies

To the mothers of infants that are effected by Cerebral Palsy,
The cause of Cerebral Palsy is simply brain damage

Cerebral palsy is caused by an injury to the brain before, during, or shortly after birth. In many cases, no one knows for sure what caused the brain injury or what may have been done to prevent the injury. A large number of factors which can injure the developing brain may produce cerebral palsy. In general, however, there are two problems that can cause cerebral palsy:

1. Failure of the brain to develop properly (developmental brain malformation)
2. Neurological damage to the child's developing brain