Definition and Types

4 Classification Criteria

Therapeutic Treatment Options

1. Area of brain damage

2. Type of movement disorder

3. Location of limb involvement

4. Level of severity

• Developmental pediatrician
• Neurologist
• Physical therapist
• Occupational therapist
• Surgeon
• Behavioral therapist
• Speech and language therapist
• Ophthalmologist (eye specialist)
• Otolaryngologists (ear, nose and throat specialist)

Definition and Types

Understanding Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect muscle movement and coordination.

4 Types:

- Spastic- most common, affects 80% of people with cerebral palsy. It causes stiff muscles and exaggerated reflexes making it difficult to walk.

- Dyskinetic- causes involuntary, abnormal movements in arms, legs, and hands

- Hypotonic- diminished muscle tone and overly relaxed muscles

- Ataxic- least common form, causes problems with balance and coordination.

Educational, Communication, and Functional Skill Implications

Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to or malformation of areas of the brain that control motor function during pregnancy or shortly after birth. It most commonly leads to impairment in muscle tone, movement, and motor skills. This means individuals with cerebral palsy often have difficulty walking or getting around, have uncontrolled movements, and difficulty with bladder and bowel control. It also can cause problems with eating, swallowing, and drooling due to oral motor impairment. Speech, vision, and hearing problems as well as learning disabilities are also frequently found in individuals with cerebral palsy. Seizures and epilepsy may accompany cerebral palsy too. Each individual with cerebral palsy can be affected very differently, displaying different conditions, and requiring different treatments. The majority of individuals with cerebral palsy have multiple conditions and/or impairments. This is due to and dependent upon the area of the brain that has been affected.

Medical Treatment and Intervention

• learning disabilities, visual impairments, hearing problems, speech problems, drooling issues, and behavior problems
• need braces, crutches, or a wheelchair to get around
• need help moving around in class or reaching things
• need assistive devices for writing and speaking
• difficulty sitting still and have uncontrolled movements
• difficulty with bladder and bowel control and may need to use a bathroom frequently
• seizures
• need occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy during the school day

• Therapy and adaptive equipment is the usual treatment for cerebral palsy, some children may also require drug therapy or surgery.

References

• Healthline.com. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/cerebral-palsy
• Kidshealth.org. (2018). Retrieved from https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/cp-factsheet.html
• Cerebralpalsy.org. (2018). Retrieved from http://www.cerebralpalsy.org/about-cerebral-palsy/treatment
• Cerebralpalsyalliance. (2018). Retrieved from https://research.cerebralpalsy.org.au/what-is-cerebral-palsy/

Erin Roberts

April 2, 2018

Spe 556

Patricia Axtell