Cerebral Palsy Essay -- Disease, Disorders

Cerebral Palsy Cerebral Palsy (CP) is brain damage. It cannot be cured, it is not contagious, it is not a disease, and it does not get worse. According to Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, "Cerebral Palsy is a broad term for various nonprogressive disorders of motor function in people, resulting from brain damage around the time of birth. Damage to the brain could occur before, during, or shortly after birth"(â€Å"Cerebral†). Since the damage is done during the brain’s formation, and occurs in the part of the brain that controls motor and muscle functions, people with CP might have problems with motor skills, muscle tone, muscle weakness, reflexes, balance, excessive drooling, difficulties swallowing or speaking, shaking, tremors, and difficulty with fine motor skills (â€Å"Cerebral Palsy: Hope†). Although it may not be diagnosed until a child is a few years old, most children with CP are born with it, and even though it does not get worse the symptoms caused by the bra in damage can change and people with CP may have problems with vision, speech, hearing, or language, but with early intervention, support and treatment, many people with CP can manage their condition and lead full, productive lives. Dr. William Little wrote the first medical description of the disorder in the 1860’s. He thought most cases of CP were caused by complications at birth resulting in lack of oxygen to the brain. Cerebral Palsy was called Little's disease for many years. CP refers to neurological disorders that appear in early childhood and affect movement and coordination (â€Å"Cerebral Palsy: Hope†). Although CP is caused by damage to the motor areas of the brain and affects body movement and muscle coordination, it is not caused by problems in the muscles o... ... Work Cited â€Å"Cerebral Palsy.† (n.d.): Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. Web. 15 Feb. 2012. Polzin, Scott; Odle, Teresa. â€Å"Cerebral Palsy.† Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 15 Feb. 2012 â€Å"Cerebral Palsy: Hope Through Research.† National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Web. 14 Feb. 2012. Morgan, A M, and J C Aldag. "Early Identification Of Cerebral Palsy Using A Profile Of Abnormal Motor Patterns." Pediatrics 98.4 Pt 1 (1996): 692-697. MEDLINE. Web. 19 Feb. 2012. â€Å"UCP: Press Room - Vocabulary Tips.† UCP: Home Page. Web. 16 Feb. 2012. .