There are over three quarters of a million children with cerebral palsy in the United States alone. Cerebral palsy is term used to refer to several neurological disorders that cause problems for children while in the womb, during labor and delivery, and soon after birth. The three main types of cerebral palsy are athetoid, ataxic and spastic. Often times, the signs and symptoms of the condition are not apparent until it is noticed that the child does not reach normal developmental milestones.

Cerebral means brain, and palsy means any disorder of posture or movement. When you combine the two words, cerebral palsy, you get a disorder of posture or movement originating from damage to the brain. From the first stages of development in the womb until the age of three years old, the brain undergoes rapid developmental changes. Since cerebral palsy is a disorder that occurs during development, once a child has moved passed those early days of development, the condition does not develop. Children with cerebral palsy will exhibit symptoms of the condition before they reach age three.

As of this writing, no one really knows what if the exact cause of cerebral palsy. What researchers do know is that there are several factors found that contribute to the condition. Damage to the brain during developmental stages in utero is said to be a trigger of cerebral palsy. The areas of the brain that are affected are the ones that control motor movements. The biggest unanswered question is why the damage occurs in the first place?

The signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy are a large part of what defines the condition. Early symptoms that occur before a child turns three years old may indicate that the child hasn’t developed proper motor skill functioning. That is because cerebral palsy in infants often times will trigger a developmental delay. Parents may notice that their child is not reaching developmental milestone such as rolling over, smiling, crawling, walking or sitting like other children. Other signs include unusual posture, abnormal muscle tone and a difficult pregnancy that involves fevers, bleeding and infection.

Understanding what cerebral palsy encompasses is the first step in understanding how to help children with cerebral palsy to better deal with their condition. The most aggressive approach to cerebral palsy is not with treatments, but with prevention in the first place. There are certain steps that can be taken in order to reduce the risk of a brain injury during pregnancy and childbirth. Infection prevention in the pregnant mother is a key factor. Making sure mom’s-to-be take their prenatal vitamins and are in good physical health are other ways as well.

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