Cerebral Palsy
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Cerebral palsy is an umbrella-like term used to describe a group of chronic
disorders impairing control of movement that appear in the
first few years of life and generally do not worsen over time. The
disorders are caused by faulty development of or damage to motor areas in
the brain that disrupts the brain's ability to control movement and
posture. Symptoms of cerebral palsy include difficulty with fine motor
tasks (such as writing or using scissors), difficulty maintaining balance
or walking, involuntary movements. The symptoms differ from person to
person and may change over time. Some people with cerebral palsy are also
affected by other medical disorders, including seizures or mental
impairment, but cerebral palsy does not always cause profound handicap.
Early signs of cerebral palsy usually appear before 3 years of age.
Infants with cerebral palsy are frequently slow to reach developmental
milestones such as learning to roll over, sit, crawl, smile, or walk.
Cerebral palsy may be congenital or acquired after birth. Several of the
causes of cerebral palsy that have been identified through research are
preventable or treatable: head injury, jaundice, Rh incompatibility, and
rubella (German measles). Doctors diagnose cerebral palsy by testing motor
skills and reflexes, looking into medical history, and employing a variety
of specialized tests. Although its symptoms may change over time, cerebral
palsy by definition is not progressive, so if a patient shows increased
impairment, the problem may be something other than cerebral palsy.
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