Cerebral palsy (abbreviated CP) - a disease caused by brain damage, usually appear in early childhood and is characterized by motor disabilities: paralysis, muscle weakness, loss of coordination, involuntary movements. Over time, cerebral palsy is not exacerbated, because it is not a progressive disease. Although cerebral palsy amazed muscles, not the nerves and muscles are the cause of this disease.

Cerebral palsy is usually caused by injury or trauma area of ​​the brain that controls muscle movement, before birth, during birth or soon after. Studies have shown that the natives of Asia, particularly South India and Sri Lanka, are particularly prone to cerebral palsy. High levels of melanin pigment in the skin contributes to gene mutations, accelerating onset. Learn about the symptoms, possible causes and treatment of cerebral palsy.

Symptoms of cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is usually easy to be diagnosed at an early age, when the child is less than three years old. In severe cases, the disease can be diagnosed in infancy (up to 3 months). Signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy are individual. However, you can select a number of typical symptoms of the disease:

• Ataxia - a disorder of coordination of the muscles in the performance of elementary movements
• Spasticity - the spasm or muscle tension and strain of reflexes
• Stepping by walking not on the whole foot, and sock
• Privolakivanie legs
• Failure to keep the balance
• Uneven, staggering gait
• Too busy or relaxed muscle tone
• Some children suffering develops due to cerebral palsy early infectious diseases of the brain, for example, bacterial meningitis Bacterial meningitis - the reasons for the spread of infection .
• In children with congenital cerebral palsy severe bad posture, their body is too relaxed or, conversely, is stressful. Curvature of the spine, underdeveloped lower jaw, small head - birth defects related to this disease.

These symptoms as children get older may increase or remain unchanged.

Such diseases and disorders like spasms, cramps, epilepsy, speech disorders, sensory disorders, mental retardation, learning disabilities, also called secondary symptoms are very common.

Cerebral palsy occurs as a result of traumatic brain injury or severe psychological.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

The exact cause of cerebral palsy is not yet established, and although doctors are discussing this issue for several decades to a conclusion they did not come. This defect is not usually associated with a single disease, but a number of disorders. The most common causes of cerebral palsy:

• The probability of occurrence of cerebral palsy in preterm infants is much higher than that of high-grade.
• This disease is especially susceptible children at birth asphyxia or having been subjected to birth trauma Birth injuries - than they threaten your child? .
• If, after the birth of the child does not cry during the first five minutes of life or if left in an incubator for four weeks or more, or if there has been bleeding in the brain, increases the likelihood of infection and, therefore, increased and the risk of cerebral palsy.
• The twins If you have twins: Ten Smiles   triplets or low birth weight, which makes them vulnerable to the development of cerebral palsy.
• Infection with certain types can be passed from mother to child during and after childbirth, which can also lead to cerebral palsy.
• The probability of occurrence of cerebral palsy increases during labor with breech presentation of the fetus, resulting in the use of analgesics or rupture of amniotic membrane (this may cause of infection).
• The probability of occurrence of cerebral palsy is higher in children who had a head injury, meningitis Meningitis - an inflammation of the meninges   or a brain hemorrhage.
• The exact cause of cerebral palsy in each case can not be established.

Treatment of cerebral palsy

Unfortunately, by cerebral palsy can not be completely cured, but treatment will improve the child's condition. Treatment of cerebral palsy is conducted primarily through the exercise of physical and mental functions, which can reduce the severity of the neurological defect. To improve muscle function using physical therapy and occupational therapy. Treatment in the early stages of the disease helps to partially overcome the defects in development, helping to learn how to carry out the necessary actions and objectives. With proper treatment of cerebral palsy child can learn to live an almost normal life. Here are the possible treatment of cerebral palsy:

• Speech therapy (speech therapy lessons at) - helps to learn to control the muscles in the mouth, to deal with problems with chewing and articulation of sounds.
• Physiotherapy and occupational therapy - helps to maximize the functions of the body and take the individual restrictions imposed by the disease to the patient further was able to lead a more or less independent life.
• Drug treatment helps to control seizures, relieves muscle spasms and pain
• The use of orthopedic devices such as braces
• Using the wheelchair
• Surgery to correct anatomical deformities and relax tense muscles
• Using communication tools, such as computers and speech synthesizers.

Signs of autism in children

In 1912, the Swiss psychiatrist Eugene Bloyler first used the term "autism" in a British medical journal. Then he meant by autism difficulties encountered in patients with schizophrenia when communicating with others. In the form in which we know it now, autism was defined later, in 1943, by Dr. Leo Kanner, who studied the behavior of eleven children with similar symptoms.

Every parent is pleased to observe that his child smiles, laughs, mumbles and reacts to what is happening around him. Children also love the attention, is constantly around them. In fact, such behavior of children and parents - not just a manifestation of love, but also a necessary condition for development. However, there are children who do not like to pay attention to others, and like living in my own world. They do not seek to learn new things, meet, share their emotions Emotions and culture: how to decipher the emotional code . Often these children have problems in communication and social adaptation, did not interest them. A child who has symptoms similar to those listed above, has autism. This problem has several names, including Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome. But each of these disorders is classified as a breakdown of the autism spectrum and differs only some of the symptoms.

The behavior of children with autism

Autism, developing the child gradually begins to manifest itself in the age of fifteen months and fully formed to three years. Parents, anxious kid lack of interest in the various occupations and games, need to check the child for the following symptoms:

• Disclaimer tactile contact with their parents.
• The absence of speech to three years.
• The child prefers to be alone than with anyone.
• The child refuses contact with the outside world or no interest in this. He absent or poorly developed skills of nonverbal communication Nonverbal communication: words - not important .
• The kid does not want to look you in the eye.
• Gestures baby strange and rather nervous than expressing something.
• The child says, but a monotone, as though repeating a memorized text.
• Many children with autism repeat the words of others in the manner of an echo.
• Unusual sensory responses (in voice, smell, taste, touch).
• Autism can be both mild and acute form. Many children with autism like symptoms appear after the start of study at school, but that's okay: the baby gets used to learning, new people, the school atmosphere. Some children with severe autism are also mentally retarded.

Autism: to understand - means to win

Autism - a mental disorder Mental Disorders - when life is fun Having a wide range and each child manifests itself differently. This condition affects the gestures, movements, speech, reaction. Not all children with autism have some physical manifestations of this. Most often, autism manifests itself in behavioral changes, such as the following:

• The child has a problem with communication, verbal or non-verbal. It should touch up on the idea of ​​the parents that the child has a disorder. The development of speech does not match the age, the child repeats the words of a monotone, without rhythm.
• The child shows the same behavior, and communicate with others prefer to repeat some one action.
• Most children with autism begin to appear between the ages of one to two years.
• These children do not play with other kids and always prefer to arrange their toys in the same order, with always depending on the color.
• Children-outs are not afraid of the surrounding, but also do not want to change anything in their lives. They are so engrossed in their daily occupations that they seem to change something unnatural.
• Some kids with autism manifested in sleep disorders Dreams: how to understand our dreams .