Essay On Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy can also come in mixed forms. A combination of Ataxic and Spasticity is the most common, and affected individuals tend to have low muscle tones, as well as a hard time sitting and standing properly. Mixed Cerebral Palsy generally causes involuntary movements associated with speaking, feeding, reaching and other skills necessary for correlated movement. Generally, cases of mixed Cerebral Palsy will result in a person becoming quadriplegic (Lewis & Bear 187).

People are diagnosed with their form of Cerebrally Palsy based on their symptoms. Depending on how severely a person is affected, determines how soon they can be diagnosed. Typically, a baby born needing immediate assistance and medical treatment has a higher possibility of being diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy than a baby that shows little evidence of trauma.

The risk of developing Cerebral Palsy is mainly a concern for babies.

Cerebral Palsy can be developed during any stage of a newborn’s life; however, it is most commonly developed within the prenatal, or “before birth”, period of a pregnancy. Prenatal factors that cause Cerebral Palsy can be triggered simply through genetics; although, it is extremely rare. Infection causing agents, such as teratogens, can also cause Cerebral Palsy by instigating brain malformations of an embryo (Lewis & Bear 185).

Cerebral Palsy may also develop within the perinatal period, which refers to the period of time either right before or right after a child’s birth. Perinatal factors of Cerebral Palsy may include premature births, which occurs when a child is born before the thirty seventh week of pregnancy. It may also be caused through birth traumas, which is the damage of tissue and organs of a newborn, or through anoxia, which is the absence of oxygen, generally caused by complications with the umbilical cord. Low birth weight also contributes as a perinatal factor for Cerebral Palsy (Lewis & Bear

185).
Cerebral Palsy can also develop through postnatal factors, which is the period of time strictly after birth. Postnatal factors of Cerebral Palsy range from tumors to brain infections, and are most commonly caused from Meningitis and head traumas, possibly linked to automobile accidents or child abuse (Lewis & Bear 185). Cerebral Palsy is a disorder that can be developed pre or postnatal. It is imperative that parents are well educated with the risk factors of Cerebral Palsy, so they do not gamble with the possibility of their child developing it.
The cause of Cerebral Palsy, in many cases, is unknown. Therefore, nothing can be done to prevent it. However, there are precautionary steps a mother can take to lower the risk of her child acquiring Cerebral Palsy (Center for Disease Control and Prevention #). Before a woman tries to become pregnant, she should be treated and cleared of all infections and consult with her doctor, to ensure all of her health conditions are under control. It is also imperative that she receives all vaccinations, especially the flu shot. This will protect the mother and her developing child against contracting the Flu virus. If the parents are conceiving through Assisted Reproductive Technology or ART infertility treatments, they should consider options to lower the risk of having multiple births, such as, transferring one embryo instead of multiple (CDC #).