Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis
The diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy is often made within
the first three years of a child's life. Parents are
often the first to notice that their child is developing
much slower than normal. Before diagnosing a child with
Cerebral Palsy, a physician may also order lab tests
to rule out other causes for the developmental delay
(such as Tay-Sachs disease or leukodystrophy). Some
of the early signs that a child might have Cerebral
Palsy include:
Slow to reach developmental milestones
Abnormal muscle tone
Unusual Posture
It is important to remember that these signs listed
above are only risk factors for Cerebral Palsy. Most
children who exhibit one or more of these factors
will not develop the disease. Before a diagnosis
of Cerebral Palsy can be made, doctors will
carefully examine the child's medical history for
other signs that CP is indeed the root of developmental
problems.
These signs include:
Breech Birth
Complicated Labor or Delivery
Low Apgar score
Premature Birth
Multiple births
Nervous system defects
Physical defects
Maternal Bleeding
In addition to researching the child's medical history,
the doctor will also test for motor skills. After these
tests are done, the doctor will have to rule out other
disorders that also cause muscular irregularity. More
specifically, the physician will look to see if the
child's condition is getting progressively worse. Since
Cerebral Palsy is not a progressive disease, a child
whose condition is deteriorating may be suffering from
some other disorder.
When the physician has determined that the child has
Cerebral Palsy, there are several tests that may help
determine the cause. A Computed Tomography (CT) scan
is used to reveal areas of the brain that are underdeveloped,
and other physical abnormalities within the brain. The
physician may also choose to use magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) to reveal areas of the brain that may
not show up on a CT scan. It is very complicated for
a doctor to predict how a young child with Cerebral
Palsy will be affected later in life. Cerebral Palsy
is not progressive; it does not become more severe as
the child gets older, although some difficulties may
become more noticeable.
Therapy and Treatment
Is there a cure?
There is no cure for Cerebral Palsy, but there are
therapies available that can make life easier and more
productive. There is no one therapy that works on every
patient. Each case is unique and therefore will require
several different types of therapy. A physician will
work together with a seasoned team of health care professionals
to determine the proper course of treatment. The treatment
team should be composed of health care experts from
various backgrounds.
Members of the team might include the following health
care professionals:
- A physician with experience helping developmentally
disabled youth. The physician will be the team leader,
coordinating the recommendations of the other health
care professionals.
- An orthopedist. The awkward configurations
of muscles in children with CP can cause problems
with bones, muscles, and joints. An orthopedist will
help to deal with muscle, tendon, bone and other issues
critical to treating CP.
- A psychologist can help patients and their
families deal with the stresses of the disorder.
- A physical therapist will create a regimen
of exercises designed to improve both strength and
movement.
- An occupational therapist can help the patient
function in everyday life, both in school and in a
work environment.
- A speech-language therapist will help the
patient deal with verbal communication issues.
- A social worker can direct the patient and
their families to community resources designed to
aid the disabled.
If children diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy are positioned
well from an early age, encouraged to play in a way
that helps them to improve their posture and muscle
control, then they can be helped to develop and achieve
more things for themselves.
Drug Therapy
Drugs can sometimes are prescribed to control seizures
associated with Cerebral Palsy. As each case of Cerebral
Palsy is unique, so must the drugs used to control the
seizures. Drug therapy may also be effective in controlling
spasticity, as well as seizures. The drugs used to control
the seizures work by altering of inhibiting the internal
chemical processes of the central nervous system. Many
of the available drug therapies have side effects, and
should all be discussed with the managing physician.
Surgery
If a Cerebral Palsy patient is suffering from extreme
muscle contractures, then surgery may be an appropriate
treatment. Severe muscular disorders can inhibit bodily
motion to the point where breathing may become difficult.
A surgeon may be able to reduce the effects of these
contractures by surgically lengthening tendons and muscles.
Human motion is an extremely complicated balancing act;
a process as simple as walking may involve more than
40 ligaments and tendons, all working in unison with
each other. Therefore, extensive pre-operative analysis
is necessary to a successful outcome.
Treatment Goals
Doctors today can't yet repair the brain injuries that
cause Cerebral Palsy, but healthcare providers can use
a number of tools to help control and improve symptoms.
Communication, daily activities, and general mobility
are the highest priorities for these patients with CP.
With support and input from families and an interdisciplinary
team of specialists, children with Cerebral Palsy can
improve tremendously. A cure for remains elusive, but
early intervention by a well-coordinated team can often
make a significant difference in quality of life for
affected children.
|
