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How To Identify Cerebral Palsy – Signs and Symptoms

October 3rd, 2009

If you are worried that your infant may have cerebral palsy and you know nothing about the disorder, then it is helpful to have some knowledge of cerebral palsy symptoms. By knowing the signs and symptoms of this condition, you can ensure quick diagnosis and prompt therapy for your child. There are a few important facts that you should know about the symptoms of cerebral palsy.

The vast majority of cerebral palsy symptoms include abnormal neonatal reflexes, hearing and vision loss, stiffness of muscles with awkward movements, extension of extremities when the infant is held upright, and scissoring of the lower limbs because of spasm of the muscles of the thigh. Some kids with cerebral palsy may also have slight to severe mental retardation. This is not always so, however. In fact, there are many people who have cerebral palsy that have normal mental capacities.

Therapeutic procedures and techniques can range anywhere from special exercises to mental health counseling. Some of the physical therapy methods like exercises can be performed with parents in the home. It is always important to remember, however, that therapeutic programs should be tailored to the ability and condition of each individual person. A therapy program can be developed with the combined assistance of several specialists.

Specialists work together as a team to build a cerebral palsy treatment program to deal with the symptoms. A team of specialists may include psychotherapists, neurologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, orthopedic surgeons and special education teachers. There are definitive guidelines to follow when diagnosing cerebral palsy. Specialists may try to rule out other possible conditions that may show similar symptoms. Your child’s doctor will also take into consideration such factors as muscle tone, reflexes, movement and visible limb deformities.

Parents should know when to expect babies to perform certain motor tasks, and they should be concerned if their baby is not learning to crawl, grasp, sit, stand or walk at age appropriate levels. This is even truer if the child is over one year of age. Think about seeing a specialist if you suspect that your child has delays in motor function development.

Management of cerebral palsy symptoms includes proper nutrition and good personal care. Medicines used to treat the symptoms are needed to reduce the amount and severity of convulsions and ease muscle stiffness. Massage, exercise, water therapy are needed as well. Special training and conductive education can merge rehabilitation and learning. Social and moral support should be given to parents as well as the children with cerebral palsy. It is a disorder that affects the entire family.

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