Cerebral Palsy (大腦麻痺)
Introduction
Cerebral Palsy (大腦麻痺) is a non-inherited disorder of movement and posture that is due to non-progressive abnormality of the immature brain. Such weak muscles would suppress and inhibit both voluntary and involuntary movements.
Causes
Cerebral Palsy is caused by brain damage during pregnancy, delivery, or at neonatal period. These include inflections of the pregnant mother including German Measles (德國麻疹), sexually transmitted diseases. Other conditions liked premature birth, trouble delivery, lead poisoning, the use of drugs or alcohol can increase the risk of occurrence of Cerebral Palsy.
Apart from that, any traumatic brain injury due to infections and injuries can cause Cerebral Palsy. It includes car accident, child abuse and neglect.
Characteristics
Physical:
Cerebral Palsied population is suffering from different degrees of physical handicap depends on different types of cerebral palsy. They find difficult to carry out voluntary movement or maintain a posture due to poor muscles. Many of them have to use wheelchair or other assistance to move around.
Tactile:
Children with Cerebral Palsy are lack of sensing things through touch.
Vision:
Eye defects liked nystagmasm (眼球震顫) and squint (斜視) are popular in Cerebral Palsied population.
Hearing:
Children with Cerebral Palsy often have high frequency hearing loss.
Intelligence:
About 50-70% of Cerebral Palsied population have mental retardation (弱智).
Besides, children with Cerebral Palsy are high risk to learning disability (學習困難) and attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder (過度活躍症).
Effects in Daily Life
Children with Cerebral Palsy usually depend on wheelchairs or sticks. They always have to stay under shelter. They have little chance to explore outside and play with peers to develop normal socialization skills. Moreover, mental retardation and trunk handicap also forbid them to learn and practice life adapting skills also. Special and additional care have to be provided to those unfortunate children.
Reference: Batshaw, M. L & Perret, Y. M. (1997) Children with Disabilities (4th Ed). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes.
Note : All material in this page is just for reference only. For further information, please consult medical professionals.