Cerebral Palsy By John Coopersmith Gold

Children with cerebral palsy tend to grow more slowly than other children, may have trouble walking, and may have trouble learning at school. This is because cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects muscle control and movement. The condition can cause muscle stiffness, weakness, and coordination difficulties, which can impact a child's physical growth and ability to walk. Additionally, cerebral palsy can also affect cognitive function, making it challenging for children to learn and perform well academically. Therefore, it is true that children with cerebral palsy may experience slower growth, difficulty walking, and trouble learning at school.

Cerebral Palsy is caused by brain damage to the part of the brain that controls the body's muscles, either before or shortly after birth. This damage can occur due to various reasons such as oxygen deprivation, infections, genetic mutations, or brain hemorrhage. It can affect motor skills, muscle coordination, and posture, leading to difficulties in movement and coordination.

Lack of oxygen is the most common cause of brain damage in newborns. This can occur during childbirth if there are complications that restrict the flow of oxygen to the baby's brain. Oxygen deprivation can lead to permanent brain damage and developmental delays. It is crucial for healthcare providers to closely monitor the oxygen levels during labor and delivery to prevent any potential harm to the newborn's brain.

A behavior therapist doesn't normally help children with Cerebral Palsy because their focus is primarily on addressing and modifying behavior patterns, rather than providing physical, speech or occupational therapy. Cerebral Palsy requires specialized therapies that address motor skills, speech and language development, and daily living activities, which are typically provided by physical therapists, speech therapists, and occupational therapists.

Doctors typically diagnose a child with cerebral palsy between the ages of one to two years after they are born. This is because cerebral palsy is a developmental disorder that affects movement and coordination, and it may take some time for the symptoms to become noticeable and for doctors to make an accurate diagnosis. The diagnosis process involves observing the child's motor skills, conducting medical tests, and ruling out other possible causes for the symptoms. Therefore, it is expected that it would take one to two years to diagnose a child with cerebral palsy.

People with more severe levels of cerebral palsy may suffer from malnutrition and pneumonia. Cerebral palsy can affect muscle control, including the muscles involved in swallowing and breathing. This can lead to difficulties in eating and drinking, which can result in malnutrition. Additionally, the weakened muscles and impaired immune system can make individuals with cerebral palsy more susceptible to respiratory infections, such as pneumonia.

William Little is credited with first describing cerebral palsy. He was an English physician who published a series of lectures in 1862, in which he described a group of children with spastic paralysis. Little's work laid the foundation for the understanding and classification of cerebral palsy as a neurological disorder. His observations and descriptions of the condition were groundbreaking at the time and have since served as a basis for further research and advancements in the field.