About Cerebral Palsy
One in four hundred births will be affected by cerebral palsy (CP). CP is a condition which is often thought to arise sue to brain damage as a result oxygen deorivation. This can occur before birth in the womb, during and after birth, usually within the first six months of life.
There is no cure for CP, although their are supportive treatments, specialist equipment and medication that can help. CP is not contagious, progressive or hereditary.
People with CP can have physical disbaility, learning difficulties, communication problems, swallowiong problems (Dysphagia), sight, hearing impairments or multiple disabilities. For some people the effects will be very mild whilst for others they can be severe or profound, with many variations in between. The most common and obvious effect is a problem in controlling movement and posture.
Depending on which parts of the brain are affected the person might also have sight or speech problems, epilepsy, and perhaps learning disabilities.
Today, more sophisticated medical care means that many more premature babies are now surviving. Some of these children have more than one severe problem and over the last few years the number of people with cerebral palsy who have profound and multiple difficulties has increased.
People with cerebral palsy do have impairments but often the most disabling factors that they have to face are the inaccessible nature of society.
World CP Day
Every year on 6th October we annually celebrate World CP Day to help raise awareness for the disability. Click here to find out what we are doing?
Features of cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is a permanent disability that affects movement. Its impact can range from a weakness in one hand, to almost a complete lack of voluntary movement. It is a complex disability:
• 1 in 4 with cerebral palsy cannot talk
• 1 in 4 cannot walk
• 1 in 2 have an intellectual disability
• 1 in 4 have epilepsy.
A person with cerebral palsy may have some or most of the following features, to a lesser or greater extent - awkward or jerky movements, stiffness, weakness, muscle spasm, floppiness, unwanted involuntary movements, the start of one movement resulting in other unwanted movements.
Certain difficulties occur more often in people with cerebral palsy such as problems with eyesight, special perception, startle reflex, hearing, speech and language, dysphagia (chewing and swallowing), epilepsy and dyspraxia.
