Cerebral Palsy is a neurological disorder that affects a child’s movement , motor skills and muscle tone. In most cases, cerebral palsy is caused by brain damage that develops while the baby is still in the uterus or shortly after birth due to a permanent brain-damage caused either accidentally or due to medical negligence.
2. Since the disability in cerebral palsy depends on the area of brain-damage, therefore, every person affected by it has a unique and different disability. Thus, such disabilities cannot be compared with each other and require different models of empowerment.
3. Early detection of CP is a must for starting an effective treatment. If the child shows symptoms like stiff muscles, exaggerated reflexes (Generally termed as spasticity), muscles being either too stiff or too floppy, stiff muscles having normal reflexes (rigidity), lack of balance and muscle coordination, and jerky involuntary movements, a doctor should be consulted at the earliest for diagnosis.
4. There is no cure. However, supportive treatments, medications and surgery may help some individuals. Various doctors and experts advocate that the best treatment to limit its effect and improve the condition of the sufferer, is to administer him/her physio and speech therapies at the earliest. It is recommended to start this treatment from early childhood for their maximum effectiveness in the long run.
5. We feel the best way to counter CP is to immediately get the child admitted to a suitable special school where all therapies along with education, are given at a reasonable price. The combination of both will groom the child’s abilities and knowledge in the long run. Inclusive education may be pursued later when the child’s abilities are sufficiently developed to manage school’s activities like other students.
6. Education Is very important for a disabled child as not only it will bring all-round-awareness but also open employment options for him/her later, quiring minimal physical movements.
7. People with Cerebral Palsy have limited upper and lower limbs functions and moderate coordination with the other parts of the body. However, the severity of such disability differs in individual cases.
