The occurrence of cerebral palsy is best calculated with children who are over five years of age. It is truly alarming that in the United States, cerebral palsy cases occur once in every two hundred and eighty births. Others say those numbers are low and approximate that it is more like five thousand to ten thousand babies being born with cerebral palsy every year in the United States. Each year, during preschool screenings, children as old as five have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy symptoms. Although a cure for cerebral palsy has yet to be found, treatments and therapies are available to make the symptoms less severe.
A doctor diagnoses cerebral palsy by testing reflexes and motor skills, reviewing medical history and running a battery of specialized tests. Although its symptoms can change over time, for cerebral palsy patients, it is not a progressive disorder. If a patient shows increased impairment, then the problem is likely being caused by some other medical issue.
A risk factor for child cerebral palsy is premature birth. Babies born prematurely have a much higher risk of developing cerebral palsy because they are still in the developmental stage of brain development. A premature baby has an increased risk of asphyxia or other forms of brain injury. It is thought that sixty percent of cases of mental retardation are caused by damage to the brain; however, not all children with cerebral palsy are mentally retarded. There are varying degrees of disability that range from mild to severe. Cerebral palsy children should not be deprived of the chance to learn, as they should be engaged in conductive education in order for him or her to learn how to function and communicate through speech and other forms.
So what is the prognosis for those who have cerebral palsy? Although it cannot be cured, but because of medical research, many patients can enjoy almost normal lives if their neurological problems are properly treated. Research regarding prevention and treatments for cerebral palsy are being conducted every day. Until there is a cure, treatments such as medication and physical therapy, as well as therapy for emotional and psychological challenges are available. Cerebral palsy information is available online at www.unitedcerebralpalsy.org.
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