1. Cerebral Palsy
Types, Causes, and Treatments
Presented by: Melissa Estrada. Biology 033. Fall 2013
Image source: cerebralpalsy.org: http://cerebralpalsy.org/about-cerebral-palsy/types/

2. Defining the medical term 
Image source: kidshealth.org: http://cerebralpalsy.org/about-cerebral-palsy/types/

3. Defining Cerebral Palsy
a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to
move and maintain balance and posture
CP is the most common motor disability in
childhood
1 in 303 children in the U.S. have CP
 All people with CP have problems with movement
and posture
Many also have related conditions such as
intellectual disability, seizures, problems with
vision, hearing, or speech, changes in the spine, or
joint problems

4. A Closer Look at CP
Image source: dreaswar.com: http://dreaswar.com/orthopaedic-surgery/paediatric-orthopaedics-treating-thedisorders-of-childrens-bones/cerebral-palsy/cerebral-palsy-in-children-a-faq/

5. A Closer Look at CP
Image source: Cerebral Palsy League: http://www.cpl.org.au/research/cp/types-of-cerebral-palsy

6. Types of Cerebral Palsy
 There are four main types
of CP:
 1.Spastic
 2. Dyskinetic
(athetoid, choreoathetoid,
dystonic)
 3. Ataxic
 4. Mixed
 Other form of categorizing
 severity

7. Causes
 Cerebral palsy is caused
by an abnormality or
disruption in brain
development, usually
before a child is born
Image source: Birthinjury.org: http://birthinjury.org/brain-injury-cerebral-palsy-tour-of-brain.html

8. Causes
 Congenital CP
85-90%
 Risk Factors:
• low birth weight
• Premature birth
• Multiple births
• Assisted Reproductive Technology
• Infections
• Jaundice
• Medical conditions of the mother
• Birth complications
Acquired CP
 Occurs more than 28 days after birth
 Causes:
• Infection
• Injury
• Problem with blood flow to the brain

9. Treatments
 There is no cure
 Treatment goal is for individual to be as independent as possible
 Team approach is needed
 Primary care doctor
 Dentist
 Social worker
 Teachers
Occupational, physical, and speech therapists
 other specialists
 Treatment is based on the individual’s symptoms
The following may help with learning and communication:
Glasses
 Hearing aids
 Walking aids
 Wheelchairs
Medications may help with some symptoms
Anticonvulsants
Botulinum toxin
2
 Muscle relaxants (Baclofen)
1
Image 1 source: http://www.ramsni.com/information_links/Cerebral%20Palsay/Cerebral%20Palsay%20info.html
Image 2 source: http://www.hiwtc.com/products/cerebral-palsy-wheelchair-1044-1958.htm

10. Treatments

11. References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cerebral Palsy (CP).
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/cp/facts.html.
Mayo Clinic. Cerebral Palsy.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cerebral-palsyDS00302DSECTION=causes
My Child. Cerebral Palsy. http://cerebralpalsy.org/about-cerebral-palsy/
U.S. National Library of Medicine. Cerebral Palsy.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001734/