Print Article for : Signs Of Cerebral Palsy

Your Online Guide » Common Illness » What Is Mental Illness

[S459]Signs Of Cerebral Palsy

by Danny Burle, Dan

Every parent should know the signs of cerebral palsy. Of course, not every child will have the condition. Those who do also cannot be cured of the disorder. Detecting the condition however, could lead to early therapy and treatment. Having the condition treated early can help improve a child's ability to cope with life's challenges.

Waiting for Signs

Cerebral palsy signs aren't the same for every child. This is because there are various types of the disorder. The signs and symptoms also therefore tend to differ. The time when the first visible signs appear also varies per individual. Some infants may show signs in the first few weeks or months of birth. There are others however, who may only show indications of the disorder after a couple of years. Whether the signs appear early or late, one thing is certain, parents are often the first ones to notice them. It is therefore crucial that parents be vigilant and observant.

Developmental Signs

There are many possible signs of cerebral palsy. The most telling signs however are delays in the natural motor progress of the child. This means that a child with cerebral palsy may not be able to walk, crawl, grasp, sit or smile on the ages which he normally should. Be careful though. Not every delayed child has cerebral palsy. That is why observations of motor abilities are always paired with other diagnostic factors.

In general, there are specific motors skills that develop on certain months after birth. From 3-6 months, a child should gradually be able to gain control of its neck. He will also learn to crawl and sit with some assistance. By the age of 1, a child will begin to stand on his own, walk with some help and grasp objects with his hands. By the age of two, a child should be able to walk by himself, pick toys, pull and push and seat himself.

A child who is unable to accomplish these developmental tasks may be showing signs of cerebral palsy. Add to this the appearance of other possible signs and symptoms such as scissors gait, tremors, drooling, lack of movement coordination and lack of balance.

Muscle Tone

Aside from developmental clues, a child's muscle tone should also be checked. A baby with the disorder could have very soft or floppy muscles or very rigid ones. It is possible that babies may initially have floppy muscles that become rigid. If you are not sure about the right feel of infant muscle tone, you have to ask your child's pediatrician.

Reflexes

Doctors also check reflexes aside from muscle tone. There are certain primitive reflexes that should only be present in infants. Their presence in older babies and children could be signs of cerebral palsy. One common example is the Moro reflex. A baby on its back with the legs tilted up would raise its arms in a seeming embrace. This reflex disappears after six months or so. Those who retain this reflex should be checked further for cerebral palsy.

There is no reason to believe that you should watch for signs of cerebral palsy. Your child may never have the condition at all. It still pays however, to be extra watchful and prepared for any eventualities.

Cerebral Palsy is the disorder that every parent should always watch out whenever their new child is still carried within the mother's womb or being born. It may impair certain abilities of the child such as motor and learning skills. Diagnosing the child for any signs of cerebral palsy will be of great help in determining the proper treatment for him/her.

The question that will certainly pop-up instantly in your mind is “what are the signs that may indicate the possibility of a child to have cerebral palsy?” Although the exact cause has yet to be determined, the signs that will be discussed in this article can give you a hint if your child is suffering from cerebral palsy or not. Read on and learn more about the signs.

There are different signs which may determine the presence of cerebral palsy depends on the child's age. A newly-born infant may show the following signs which are an indication of cerebral palsy presence in him/her?

• Suckling difficulties;
• Abnormality and breathing; or
• Bowel evacuating.

As the infant grows, there are other signs to look out such as the consistent use of the half part of the body compared to the other half and favoring a particular posture compared to the other one. The infant who is usually stiff, lacking any facial expressions, disorganized eye movements, head movements not following where a particular sound came from, and lack of any active response to any level of human voice can give you a cue if something is wrong.

In addition, if the child is having difficulty to perform basic movements such as rolling, crawling, smiling, and walking suggest possible presence of cerebral palsy. His/her hands are shaking. Making it difficult for them to grasp and play with their toys.

Other cerebral palsy signs also depend on the type the child is suffering into. The following are summary of the possible symptoms for each type of cerebral palsy:

• A child suffering from spastic diplegics has the typical scissors gait where the legs are crossing at the knees.

• If he/she has spastic hemiparesis, he/she may have uncontrollable tremors on the other half of his/her body.

• Athetoid cerebral palsy-affected children have difficulty in writing as well as movements on their extremities.

• Ataxic cerebral palsy-affected children are experiencing difficulty in executing basic motor tasks such as buttoning shirts and tremors also occurs while doing voluntary movements.

Always remember that once you have noticed any signs present on your child, he/she must be brought immediately to your physician for more accurate diagnosis.

Article Source : Stigma Of Mental Illness

About Author

Both Danny Burle & Low Jeremy are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Danny Burle has sinced written about articles on various topics from Health, Autism and Debt Reduction Consolidation. Learn how to detect so proper treatment can begin early. Visit. Danny Burle's top article generates over 5400 views. to your Favourites.

Low Jeremy has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Management, Computers and The Internet and Elder Care. This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on cerebral palsy, what causes it & where to get advice, please visit. Low Jeremy's top article generates over 368000 views. to your Favourites.