Cerebral Palsy (cp) is one of the most common physical...

Cerebral Palsy (cp) is one of the most common physical disabilities in the United States, defined by its various types, treatment, and legal rights for those with the condition. The term cerebral palsy (seh-ree-brel pawl-zee) is used to express any of the three or sometimes four types of the disorder. Still, the term itself can be confusing. Cerebral means ‘brain’ while palsy is ‘paralysis.’ As serious as it sounds, it is not a disease. The term refers to brain damage that causes weakness or paralysis of parts of the body such as legs or arms. Cerebral palsy is a non-contagious, non-progressive neuro-muscular disorder that impairs standard muscle control. There were many researchers who took steps to define the condition as early as†¦show more content†¦When these parts of the brain are damaged, the messages are not received properly as it should. Thus, the miscommunication affects the muscles. For example, when the brain commands the affected limb to straighten, it cannot, making the hand, or foot turn inward involuntarily than outward. Unfortunately, the brain damage is irreversible. And while it is possible to at least l essen certain risks for cp with modern medicine and technology, it cannot be prevented. Cerebral palsy cannot be easily diagnosed in infancy. However, there are early signs that could pinpoint CP include stiffness, difficulty with crawling, standing and moving in position, and favoring one side. It can be noticed when the baby does not roll over properly and fails to meet developmental milestones. Children with the disorder are usually diagnosed at about before age three years or even earlier. The pediatrician can sometimes diagnose cerebral palsy during the baby’s check-up. Another way, a doctor would ask the parents, typically the first to know something is wrong with their child about their observations. He or she can perform a M.R.I. to produce an image of the brain, do intelligence tests, test reflexes, and do self-observations by having the child do simple commands (ex. stand up straight) and refer to eye or ear specialists if need be. Blood tests are done to see if there are other conditions as early signs do not always translate to cp. IfShow MoreRelat edPhysical Disability And Physical Disabilities1191 Words   |  5 Pagesas individuals with physical disabilities require more specific nursing care, whether it is in a hospital setting or out in the community. According to the Physical Disability Council of North West Sydney (2009), physical disability pertains to total or partial loss of a person’s bodily functions (ex. walking, gross motor skills, bladder control etc.) and total or partial loss of a part of the body (ex. an amputation). John Hopkins University states, â€Å"physical disabilities result from congenitalRead MoreEssay Cerebral Palsy1151 Words   |  5 PagesCerebral Palsy (CP) is a condition that affects thousands of people each year. An estimated 764,000 children and adults are afflicted with one or more symptoms of CP. Around 8,000 infants and babies are diagnosed each year and 1,200-1,500 preschool age children are recognized with symptoms of CP (www.ucp.org). This condition is caused by â€Å"a bnormal development of areas of the brain that control movement and posture† (www.ucp.org). It can also be caused by damage to the brain (usually becauseRead MoreCauses And Consequences Of Premature Birth Essay4585 Words   |  19 PagesIntroduction Babies born before thirty-seven weeks gestation are considered to be preterm, or premature. More than one in every ten babies is born too early. Preterm birth complications are the leading cause of death among children under five years of age. Premature birth has a wide range of effects. All babies born before thirty-seven weeks gestation are at risk for complications that can have a lasting effect on the growing baby and family. At twenty-four weeks, the survival rate of a prematureRead MoreEssay special education11975 Words   |  48 Pagesï » ¿CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS OF DISABILITY The contemporary conception of disability proposed in the WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) views disability as an umbrella term for impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions. Disability is the interaction between individuals with a health condition (e.g. cerebral palsy, Down syndrome or depression) and personal and environmental factors (e.g. negative attitudes, inaccessible transportation,