According to the website www.cpal/geocities.org, I found valuable information to help me with my report about exceptionalities in students. This website was like a tutorial that walked step by step through the disability, causes, and treatments. In definition, the words Cerebral Palsy are used to describe a medical condition that affects control of the muscles. Cerebral means anything in the head, and palsy refers to anything wrong with control of the muscles or joints in the body. If someone has cerebral palsy, it means that because of an injury to their brain (that's the cerebral part), they are not able to use some of the muscles in their body in the normal way (that's the palsy part). Children who have cerebral palsy, or CP, may not be able to walk, talk, eat, or play in the same ways as most other kids. CP is not a disease or illness. It isn't contagious, and it doesn't get worse, but it is not something you "grow out of." Children who have CP will have it all their lives. Cerebral palsy is caused by an injury to the brain before, during, or shortly after birth. In many cases, no one knows for sure what caused the brain injury or what may have been done to prevent the injury. Sometimes injuries to a baby's brain happen while the baby is still in the mother's womb (prenatal). The injury might be caused by an infection or by an accident in which the mother is hurt. If a mother has a medical problem such as high blood pressure or diabetes, this can also cause problems in the baby. There may be problems during birth such as the baby not getting enough oxygen, or a difficult delivery in which the baby's brain is injured. Problems after birth may happen when a baby is born too soon (premature delivery) and their body is not ready to live outside their mother's womb. Even babies born at the right time can have infections or bleeding in their brain, which causes a brain injury because the brain is still developing even after birth. The most important thing to remember is that you do not "catch" CP from another person, and you do not develop CP later in life. It is caused by an injury to the brain near the time of birth. Children with CP have damage to the area of their brain that controls muscle tone. Depending on where their brain injury is and how big it is, their muscle tone may be affected in different ways. There are different types of CP, and each type affects the body differently. Some children with CP may have trouble with their arms or legs, while others may have trouble with their face, tongue, or mouth. Some children with CP may have trouble with their eyesight or hearing. There are many different treatments for CP, and each child's treatment plan is different. Some children may need surgery to help them move better, while others may need special braces or equipment to help them stand or walk. Some children may need to take medicine to help them relax their muscles or control their seizures. Some children may need to see a speech therapist to help them learn to talk or use a communication device. Communication devices can be as simple as a picture board that the person can use to spell out their message. There are also computers that are used as communication aids that actually talk for the person! Occupational therapists usually work with children on better ways to use their arms, hands, and upper body. They may teach children better or easier ways to write, draw, cut with scissors, brush their teeth, dress and feed themselves, or control their wheelchair. Occupational therapists also help children find the right special equipment to make some everyday jobs a little easier. Recreational therapists help kids with CP have fun! They work with children on sports skills or other leisure activities. In recreational therapy, kids may work on dance, swimming, or horseback riding. In conclusion, by taking a few minutes on the computer, I was able to access all the information I needed for Cerebral Palsy. I have found out information that I would have never known unless I tried. Children with CP are normal people just like you and me, but by taking
According to the United States Department of Labor they explain that, “Occupational therapists treat patients with illnesses, Injuries, and disabilities through therapeutic use of everyday activities. Occupational therapist help patients recover, improve, and develop the skills
Recreational therapy works with populations such as mental health, gerontology, pediatrics, veterans, and many more populations that involve individuals with and without a disability, allowing their scope of practice to be very broad. Recreational therapists work with clients to restore motor, social and cognitive functioning, build confidence, develop coping skills, and integrate skills learned in treatment settings into community settings. Intervention areas vary widely and are based upon client interests and needs. Examples of intervention modalities include creative arts, sports, adventure programming, dance, movement, and leisure education (The Recreational Therapy Professional, 2012). Recreational therapy services are recognized in some health care fields, as well as throughout the community depending on the population they specialize in. Through the use of recreational therapy, individuals receiving treatment would be able to reach a better quality of life through the facilitation of activities that are designed to benefit the individual in all aspects of his or her
Sankar, C; Mandkur, N. (2005). Cerebral Palsy-Definition, Classification, Etiology and Early Diagnosis. Symposium on Developmental and Behavioural Disorders. 72 (10), 865-868.
After a person reads this article, I can highlight some of the main points in the article to give them a better understanding of what is occupational therapy is in the psychosocial aspect. It is important for me to keep this article on hand because if someone wants to look up what I do and they do not know where to begin, I can give them this article to read to get a basic understanding of what I do and they can get an idea of what to research. This article is not only for clients and client’s friends and family, but it can be used for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistances. This article can be used as a refresher for a therapist if they are having a hard time remembering something about this
Many people have heard the term cerebral palsy and may have a personal perception about the appearance and effects of this
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a condition marked by impaired muscle coordination and other disabilities, which causes damage to the brain before and during birth. Cerebral palsy is a static disorder of the brain, not a progressive disorder. This mean that the disorder or disease process will not get worse as time goes on. Nor are the motor disorders associated with cerebral palsy temporary. (Miller and Bachrach pg. 3) Cerebral Palsy affects the nervous system by having dysfunctions, in movements such as, learning, hearing, seeing, and thinking. During the first 3 to 5 years of a child's life Cerebral Palsy occur because the baby's brain is still developing. (CP is one of the most common congenital (existing before birth or at birth) disorders of childhood). Spastic, athetoid, ataxic and dystonic are all different types of Cerebral Palsy. Majority of circumstances with children having CP are unknown, then again numerous results show problems during pregnancy in which the brain is damaged or doesn't develop normally. “This can be due to infections, maternal health problems, a genetic disorder, or something else that interferes with normal brain development.” Cerebral palsy is also caused by injuries and abnormalities of the brain; as the baby grows in the womb these problems occur. Some causes may lead to problems with brain development which include:
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"(“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 (“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 brain 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.
Occupational therapy strives to help individuals across the lifespan with and without disability live their life to the fullest by enabling them to do things they want or need to do. Occupational therapy is a holistic profession that aims to promote health and prevent, maintain, or improve live with a disability, illness or injury. Occupational therapy falls under public health because it looks at public health issues that impact patients and advocate for changes that can benefit copious individuals. The profession is also actively participating in health promotion by enabling people to increase control over their own health and work to improve health. Through engagement in occupations, everyday activities that are meaningful and purposeful
According to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, “In the United States, nearly thirteen percent of babies are born preterm, and many of these babies also have a low birth weight.” The baby may be put into the NICU for varies reasons. However, the most common reason that a child is put into the NICU is because he or she is premature. Premature means the baby was born before the 36 weeks. It is never good for a baby to be born early, as this could mean that the baby is not fully developed. There are other factors as to why a child may need to be put into the NICU after birth. For instance, birth defects can be the cause of why a baby is put into the NICU. A baby may be born with an infection such as herpes or chlamydia which can damage the newborns immune system at such a young age. Low blood sugar or hypoglycemia can also cause an infant to be put into the NICU. Some maternal factors of why a baby may be put into the NICU is if the mother is “younger than 16 or older than 40.” If the parent may be an alcoholic or expose the baby to drugs, this can put the child into NICU care. If the parent has an STD or sexual transmitted disease, the baby is most likely going to have to be put into the intensive care unit. “Twins, triplets, and other multiples are often admitted into the NICU, as they tend to be born earlier and s...
Cerebral Palsy cannot be prevented, but if pregnant health precautions can decrease chances of the infant to develop Cerebral Palsy. Having a healthy diet, proper use of
Sack, J.L. (1999). Schools advised to catch, treat disabilities as early as possible. Education Week, 18, 7. Received April 16, 2005 from EBSO-host.
A physical disability may affect a childâ€TMs social skills if they become withdrawn, their behaviour may also be affected if they feel frustrated by their limitations. Cerebral palsy for example, is a condition that affects the movement, posture and co-ordination of a person, a sufferer can also be affected by seizures, epilepsy or problems with speech and language. Development may be restricted by the
Over 1.7 million traumatic brain injuries are reported each year. According to reports the leading cause of brain injuries are from falls followed by motor vehicle accidents, and accidents that were a result of being struck by something. Falls account for 32.5% of traumatic brain injuries in the United States. 50% of all child brain injuries are from falling. 61 % of all traumatic brain injuries among adults are 65 years old or older. Traumatic brain injuries are very violent blows or jolts to the head or body that result in the penetration of the skull. Mild traumatic brain injuries can cause brief dysfunction of the brain cells. Serious brain injuries can cause bleeding, bruising, physical damage to other parts of the body and torn tissues. Brain injuries are more prevalent with males rather than females. Causes of brain injuries include:
As their brain develops they start to see how it really doesn’t mean they are gone forever. Another really important function of the brain is balancing. The semicircular canals are responsible for our ability to balance. In countries like Cameroon moms want their babies to start walking as soon as possible. They start teaching them how to walk since they are 1 month old. By the time they are 10 months they are walking. Another interesting case on how we can teach our brain to do amazing things is in the case of Angelina, born with only half of a healthy brain she lives a pretty normal life. She has complex local seizures making her not be active and be unresponsive. Her condition is called Sturge- Weber syndrome only the left side of her brain is perfectly healthy. She goes through a surgery hoping to survive and still be the active happy baby she is. Doctors have hope that she will recover because her brain is not fully developed yet so it is still flexible at her age which makes it more hopeful that she will recover. At the age of 1 the human brain loses some of its flexibility making it impossible for functions to transfer to the other side of your brain.
Occupational therapy is a form of therapy for those recuperating from physical or mental illness that encourages rehabilitation through the performance of activities required of daily life (O’Brien & Hussey, 2012; American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2014). The goal of OT intervention is to increase the ability of the client to engage in everyday activities, for example, feeding, dressing, bathing, leisure, work, education (O’Brien & Hussey, 2012; & AOTA, 2014).