Cerebral Palsy Management

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture.

There are four main types of Cerebral Palsy: 1. Spastic Cerebral Palsy 2. Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy 3. Ataxic Cerebral Palsy 4. Mixed Cerebral Palsy

Parents can pay attention to specific signs of cerebral palsy in young children so that they can receive treatment as soon as possible. The following list contains signs to consider: Babies Under 6 Months Old: Body feels stiff, lagging head, constantly pushing away when held Babies Older Than 6 Months: Has fisted hands, unable to roll in either direction, difficulty bringing hands to mouth Babies Older Than 10 Months: Crawls in lopsided way, scoots on knees or buttocks, unable to crawl with legs

Diagnosing Cerebral Palsy at an early age is important to the well-being of children and their families. Diagnosing CP can take several steps: Developmental Monitoring Developmental Screening Developmental and Medical Evaluations

Common treatments include medicines; surgery; braces; and physical, occupational, and speech therapy. No single treatment is the best one for all children with CP. Before deciding on a treatment plan, it is important to talk with the child’s doctor to understand all the risks and benefits.

You or your doctor can ask for a referral to a specialist who can do a more in-depth evaluation of your child and assist in making a diagnosis.