| Cerebral palsy can be commonly termed as brain | | | | tasks. The speech-language therapy is aimed at |
| paralysis. It is a condition relating to disorders of body | | | | developing the communication skills of the child as he |
| movement, balance and posture. The major causes | | | | may have problems with his tongue muscles causing |
| of cerebral palsy include abnormal development or | | | | problems in speech. |
| damage to one or more parts of the brain, which | | | | Assistive technology, which includes communication |
| may result in disorders in body movement, balance | | | | devices and computer technology, is used in aid to |
| and posture. Cerebral palsy is detected in the early | | | | these therapies. These technologies have |
| phase of life as the development of the infant is | | | | communication boards, augmentative communication |
| slowed. | | | | devices and electronic toys with special switches to |
| The problems caused by cerebral palsy include muscle | | | | sophisticated computer programs, which help the |
| stiffness, poor muscle tone, uncontrolled movements, | | | | children in improving their performance. |
| and problems with posture, balance, coordination, | | | | Then, there are physical, behavioural and other |
| walking, speech, swallowing, mental retardation, | | | | therapies for the treatment of cerebral-palsy. All |
| seizures, breathing, learning disabilities, bladder and | | | | these technologies are used collaboratively to provide |
| bowel control problems, skeletal deformities, eating | | | | maximum support and care to the children with |
| difficulties, dental problems, digestive problems, | | | | cerebral palsy, so that they can have better growth |
| hearing and vision problems, and many other related | | | | and development. |
| problems. | | | | Drug therapy is often carried out to control the |
| Cerebral palsy can be further divided into spastic | | | | seizures and to reduce abnormal movements in the |
| (pyramidal), dyskinetic (extrapyramidal) and mixed. | | | | patients of cerebral-palsy. If the contractures are |
| Spastic (pyramidal) includes muscle stiffness and | | | | very severe, and they cause immense problems in |
| jerky and awkward movements. Dyskinetic | | | | movement, surgery is also done. The surgical |
| (extrapyramidal) includes coordination of movements | | | | procedures often involve the lengthening of the |
| and can be further divided into 2 sub-categories: | | | | muscles or tendons, in case they are short than the |
| athetoid and ataxic. The mixed type may include a | | | | normal. Chronic cerebellar stimulation and stereotaxic |
| mix of any of the above mentioned types. | | | | thalamotomy is included in experimental surgical |
| There are different types of treatments for | | | | techniques. These are used to stimulate certain |
| cerebral-palsy, which are further discussed in this | | | | cerebellar nerves. |
| article. These are physical therapy (PT), occupational | | | | These are some of the treatments that are carried |
| therapy (OT), speech-language pathology (S/L), | | | | out to help the people cerebral-palsy so that they |
| physical, behavioural therapy, drug therapy, surgery | | | | can lead a better life and to reduce their dependency |
| and mechanical aids. | | | | on other people. However, all these treatments are |
| The physical therapy is aimed at helping the child | | | | very time consuming, and they require a lot of |
| develop strong muscles and help him in learning walk, | | | | patience from the patient as well as his family. These |
| sit and maintain his balance. The occupational therapy | | | | methods and techniques have so far been very |
| is aimed at developing fine motor skills of the child | | | | successful to a great extent and for treating cerebral |
| such as dressing, feeding, writing and other daily living | | | | palsy. |