Cerebral palsy is a group of permanent disorders affecting movement and posture that result from disturbances in the developing fetal or infant brain.
The clinical presentation varies considerably from child to child.
Areas That May Be Affected
Children may have difficulties with:
Muscle tone
Movement
Balance
Coordination
Walking
Hand function
Feeding
Speech
Communication
Vision
Learning
Seizures
Management
Management is multidisciplinary and depends on the child's individual needs.
It may involve:
Pediatric neurological assessment
Physiotherapy
Occupational therapy
Speech and feeding therapy
Orthopaedic assessment
Assistive devices
Management of epilepsy or other associated conditions
Developmental and educational support
The Goal
Management should focus on function and participation.
The objective is to help the child move, communicate, learn and participate as independently as possible.
