According to a Connecticut physician, cerebral palsy affects approximately 3 out of every 1,000 children. Interviewed in the Norwich Bulletin, the doctor also gives information that may be useful for parents whose children have recently been diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
Signs of the Disorder
Out of the children who are affected with cerebral palsy, many of them will have different symptoms. Some of them will have a great deal of difficulty with walking, which is usually a sign of ataxic cerebral palsy. Other children will have issues with their muscles that cause their body to move in involuntary and abnormal ways, a symptom of dyskinetic cerebral palsy. In addition to this, some children will end up with cerebral palsy that involves a mixture of these broad symptoms.
Seizures and Mental Disabilities
Of the people in the world who have cerebral palsy, approximately 20-40 percent of them develop a seizure disorder, as well. Cerebral palsy also has significant impact on mental development. According to the physician, anywhere from a third to half of the people with cerebral palsy have some level of intellectual disability.
Prenatal and Delivery Causes
According to the article, over 75 percent of the people who suffer from cerebral palsy suffer from problems that occur before they are born. There are many different types of injuries that can occur to an unborn child. Infections, a lack of oxygen to the brain and genetic problems are all cited as reasons that children sometimes develop cerebral palsy in the womb.
Approximately 10 percent of cerebral palsy cases occur because a child doesn’t get enough oxygen during the birthing process. This category includes birth injuries from medical mistakes, such as improper positioning of the child, not monitoring vital signs or other issues.
Diagnosis and Care
There are cases where cerebral palsy is noticed or suspected right after birth and there are cases when parents don’t find out for some time after, usually when they notice their child isn’t developing as they expected. Either way, there are treatments for this group of disorders and they’re getting more effective all the time. If your child has cerebral palsy, your physician will tailor their treatment to their needs specifically. Unfortunately, however, how many options the parents have oftentimes depends upon factors such as health insurance and how much money the parents themselves have on hand.