Cerebral Palsy

Brief Information

Introduction

Cerebral palsy is a general term used by doctors to refer to a set of neurological conditions (conditions that affect the brain and nervous system) that affect a child's movement and coordination.

Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the brain, which normally occurs before, during, or soon after birth.

The symptoms of cerebral palsy vary from child to child. Some children will have problems walking, while others will be profoundly disabled and require life-long care.

It is estimated that 1 in every 500 children is born with cerebral palsy.

Children with cerebral palsy often have other related conditions. These include:

• Epilepsy
• Learning difficulties
• Incontinence
• Impaired vision and/or hearing
• Difficulties speaker or understanding other people speak
• Delayed growth
• Curved spine (scoliosis)
• Drooling (unintentional loss of saliva from the mouth)

Cerebral palsy is not a progressive condition, meaning that it will not get worse as your child gets older. However, cerebral palsy can put a great deal of strain on the body which can cause problems in later life.

There is no cure for cerebral palsy, but there are a range of treatments that can help relieve symptoms and help increase a child's sense of independence and self-esteem.

More Information

• Botulinum Toxin Injections - Institute of Child Health
• Scope - About cerebral palsy
• Cerebral Palsy (Children First for Health – NHS)
• What is Cerebral Palsy? - National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (USA)

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