Cerebral Palsy 
Tahukah Anda apa itu Cerebral Palsy? Cerebral Palsy adalah sebuah kondisi yang terkadang dianggap sebagai gabungan gangguan yang melibatkan otak dan fungsi sistem saraf seperti gerakan, pembelajaran, pendengaran, penglihatan dan pemikiran. Ada beberapa tipe Cerebral Palsy, termasuk diantaranya adalah Spastic, Dyskinetic, Ataxic, Hypotonic, dan Mixed. Penyebab dan Resiko Cerebral Palsy disebabkan karena luka atau cacat pada otak. Sebagian besar masalah ini terjadi ketika bayi, atau dapat juga terjadi kapan saja dalam rentang usia 0-2 tahun. Pada masa ini, otak manusia masih dalam tahap perkembangan yang sangat pesat. Pada sebagian orang yang mengidap Cerebral Palsy, ada bagian-bagian otak yang terluka karena kekurangan asupan oksigen. Gejala ini disebut juga sebagai Hypoxia. Bayi prematur memiliki resiko mengidap Cerebral Palsy yang sedikit lebih tinggi dibanding yang terlahir normal. Cerebral Palsy dapat juga terjadi pada bayi dikarenakan kondisi berikut: Pendarahan pada otak Infeksi pada otak (encephalitis, meningitis, herpes simplex infections) Luka pada kepala Infeksi yang dialami oleh sang ibu ketika mengandung (rubella) Jaundice Namun begitu, pada sebagian besar kasus, penyebab Cerebral Palsy tidak dapat diketahui. Gejala Cerebral Palsy pada Anak Gejalanya bisa terlihat sebelum anak berusia 2 tahun, bahkan terkadang mulai dari usia bayi 3 bulan. Ketika bayi Anda sangat terlambat perkembangannya, terutama yang berkaitan dengan duduk, berguling, merangkak dan berjalan. Cerebral Palsy: Don't Let it ATTACK Your Baby! Cerebral Palsy is a broad term used to describe a group of chronic movement or posture disorders. “Cerebral” refers to the brain, while “Palsy” refers to a physical disorder, such as a lack of muscle control. Cerebral Palsy is not caused by problems with the muscles or nerves, but rather with the brain’s ability to adequately control the body. Cerebral Palsy can be caused by injury during birth, although sometimes it is the result of later damage to the brain. Symptoms usually appear in the first few years of life and once they appear, they generally do not worsen over time. Disorders are classified into four categories: * Spastic (difficult or stiff movement) * Ataxic (loss of depth perception and balance) * Athetoid/Dyskinetic (uncontrolled or involuntary movements) * Mixed (a mix of two or more of the above) Diagnosing Cerebral Palsy Doctors diagnose cerebral palsy by testing an infant’s motor skills and looking carefully at the infant’s medical history. In addition to checking for slow development, abnormal muscle tone, and unusual posture, a physician can also perform a number of medical tests such as MRIs, CTs, and ultrasounds to look at pictures of the infant’s brain, which can help determine the cause of the child’s problems as well as rule out other disorders. Reflex Test Reflexes are movements that the body makes automatically in response to a specific cue. There are many reflexes physicians check. For example, when a newborn is held on its back and tilted so its legs are above its head, the baby will automatically extend its arms in a gesture, called the Moro reflex, which looks like an embrace. Babies normally lose this reflex after they reach 6 months, but those with cerebral palsy may retain it for abnormally long periods. Hand Preference Test Doctors can also test for hand preference-a baby’s tendency to use either the right or left hand more often. The doctor will hold an object in front and to the side of the infant. An infant with a hand preference will use the favored hand to reach for the object, even when it is held closer to the opposite hand. During the first 12 months of life, babies do not usually show hand preference. However, infants with cerebral palsy may develop a preference much earlier, since one hand is usually stronger and more useful. CT Computed tomography, or CT, a sophisticated imaging technique that uses X rays and a computer to create an anatomical picture of the brain’s tissues and structures. A CT scan may reveal brain areas that are underdeveloped, abnormal cysts (sacs that are often filled with liquid) in the brain, or other physical problems. With the information from CT scans, doctors may be better equipped to judge the long-term outlook for an affected child. MRI Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, is a relatively new brain imaging technique that is rapidly gaining widespread use for identifying brain disorders. This technique uses a magnetic field and radio waves, not X rays to map portions of the brain. MRI gives better pictures of structures or abnormal areas located near bone than CT. How Do I Know if My Child Has Cerebral Palsy? If your child is 2 to 3 years old, you might suspect that something isn’t “right.” Or maybe your gut told you early on that your baby was not developing like other babies her age. Unfortunately, it can take years to determine if your child does in fact have developmental problems. Different babies develop at different rates, and most of the time each child falls into the range of “normal.” For example, your neighbor’s daughter might start walking at 9 months. But your nephew may not take his first step until he is 18 months. Yet both children hit that milestone at the age that was healthy and normal for them. So, because the age spectrums for “normal” are so broad, your doctor may not worry if your child can’t walk or firmly grasp and hold on to a toy until later than the average. But if you suspect that your baby is not developing within the normal range, you obviously want to know why. And you may suspect cerebral palsy. Signs and Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy in Children Symptoms of cerebral palsy can range from mild to severe. Pay close attention if your child demonstrates one or a combination of the following: * Struggles with fine motor skills. These include handling scissors, using crayons, buttoning a shirt, and any other movement that uses her fingers and hands * Struggles with gross motor skills. These include walking, riding a tricycle, kicking a ball, and other movements that use his legs and arms. * Trouble sitting upright. It takes a lot of muscle tone to sit up without toppling over. * Shakes a lot or has uncontrollable jerking of her legs, arms, or torso. * Muscles are weak. * Body tremors, drooling, weakened muscles in his face; may lose control of his tongue. * Trouble moving from one position to another. * Trouble sucking. If your child shows any of these signs, she needs to be seen by a doctor who is trained in diagnosing cerebral palsy. The doctor should perform a series of tests and ask you a series of questions about your child’s development. Your child’s symptoms will vary by the type of cerebral palsy she is diagnosed with. If her cerebral palsy is considered severe, she may require special help with her mobility as she develops and grows, including one or a combination of the following: * A wheel chair * Crutches * Physical therapy * Medication * Specialized care from an outside provider How to Get Help if You Think Your Child May Have CP Whatever it is your child needs to have a happier, healthier and more productive life, you may qualify for special monetary benefits. Especially if your child’s cerebral palsy could have been prevented. As you may be discovering, the special care and equipment your child requires can be expensive. The good news is that it’s easier than you might expect to get the financial help you need. If you are feeling lonely, scared, or confused as to what to do next, rest assured that someone cares. We are here to help you get the emotional and monetary support that you and your child deserve. EEG When the doctor suspects a seizure disorder, an electroencephalogram, or EEG, may be ordered. An EEG uses special patches called electrodes placed on the scalp to record the natural electrical currents inside the brain. This recording can help the doctor see telltale patterns in the brain’s electrical activity that suggest a seizure disorder. Intelligence Tests Intelligence tests are often used to determine if a child with cerebral palsy is mentally impaired. Sometimes, however, a child’s intelligence may be underestimated because problems with movement, sensation, or speech due to cerebral palsy make it difficult for him or her to perform well on these tests. Vision Tests If problems with vision are suspected, the doctor may refer the patient to an ophthalmologist for examination; if hearing impairment seems likely, an audiologist may be called in. Ruling Out Other Disorders A crucial step in diagnosing cerebral palsy is to rule out other disorders that can cause movement problems. Most importantly, doctors must determine that the child’s condition is not getting worse. Although symptoms may change over time, cerebral palsy is not progressive. If a child is continuously losing motor skills, the problem more likely has another cause, such as a genetic disease, a muscle disease, a disorder of metabolism, or a tumor in the nervous system. The child’s medical history, special diagnostic tests, and, in some cases, repeated check-ups can help confirm that other disorders are not at fault. Rgds, -̶̶•-̶̶•̸Ϟ•̸M_Y•̸Ϟ•̸-̶̶•-̶
