| Cerebral palsy is a medical condition that affects | | | | They are Spastic, Athetoid and Ataxic. Most children |
| thousands of children around the world. Many parents | | | | are often diagnosed with having Spastic CP while a |
| simply go into raptures when for the first time they | | | | child with athetoid CP will not be able to control their |
| watch with love how their little ones first turn over | | | | muscles and the movements of the limbs would |
| on the tummies, sit up, crawl and later try to stand | | | | occur in a haphazard manner. The child with spastic |
| on the legs and take those very first steps. These | | | | CP would have problems in balancing and muscle |
| are all normal growth milestones that happen in the | | | | coordination. CP in a child can be either mild or severe. |
| lives of normal children. However, those afflicted by | | | | If mild then the child will face only a few defects in |
| cerebral palsy will find that none of these happen in | | | | their limbs and may not have to use the wheel chair |
| their early years and most end up either on the | | | | to move around. On the other hand, if the CP |
| wheel chairs or have to use crutches and braces to | | | | disorder is severe then the child will be stricken to |
| walk or move. A child with CP will certainly not be | | | | the wheel chair and will not be able to speak much |
| able to talk much and even if they do, the words | | | | without drooling. Partial paralysis can also be seen in |
| would be incoherent and not easily understood by | | | | severe cases where the child with CP will not be able |
| others. | | | | to move one side of their body entirely. |
| Cerebral palsy in a child is certainly not contagious, as | | | | A child with Cerebral palsy needs to be diagnosed |
| many fear it to be and most definitely not a disease. | | | | quite early in life as soon as symptoms are detected. |
| A medical condition happens because the part of the | | | | This will help a team of physicians to formulate what |
| brain that controls the muscular movements is | | | | type of treatment would best suit the child. The child |
| damaged or improper growth of the brain has taken | | | | needs to undergo psychotherapy, physiotherapy, |
| place. The brain has all the controls and gives | | | | speech and behavioral therapy, occupational therapy |
| instructions to the various muscles, body parts, | | | | to help him or her to go through life smoothly. These |
| organs and nerves on functioning. If that part of the | | | | therapies help the child with CP to tackle all their daily |
| brain that controls muscle coordination gets affected | | | | chores like brushing their teeth, taking a bath, |
| then the child will have cerebral palsy, which means | | | | dressing up, taking food etc. Nevertheless, to help |
| the child will not be able to speak, walk, run, eat or | | | | them cope with other daily activities and school they |
| play as other normal children do. | | | | need additional therapies like music, dance and yoga |
| There are three main types of cerebral palsy and a | | | | which will help boost their self confidence. |
| child with CP can be affected by anyone of them. | | | | |