Understanding Children With Cerebral Palsy

"Cerebral Palsy (CP) represents one of the most frequent neurological disorder in the infancy and in the childhood. It includes brain injuries or developmental defects. According to the World Health Organization, it is a main problem of public health. It may include communication, intellectual, and motor disabilities with negative consequences on children inclusion in daily life and caregivers burden. Rehabilitative interventions are primarily focused on promoting self-determination and independence of individuals with CP. Postural control, gait, and motor skills are usually embedded. Additionally, one may envisage request and choice programs aimed at enhancing the child's awareness of his/her own behavior. The volume summarizes some illustrative evidence-based contributions to emphasize the effectiveness and the suitability of the adopted programs. Beside stability of upper limbs and motor performance of children with CP (chapter one), the therapeutic effects of a horse riding simulator which was compared to a traditional physiotherapy on the sitting position of children with spastic CP (chapter two), the evaluation of stability in children with different form of CP was assessed through a rehabilitative platform was implemented (chapter three). The aforementioned experimental examinations presented between-groups investigations. Furthermore, four case-report studies were included. Assistive technology-based setups were used to promote an active role, constructive engagement, and positive participation of the enrolled children with CP and intellectual disabilities. The beneficial outcomes on their quality of life were considered. Chapter four describes a microswitch-based program to enhance ambulation responses of a child with CP. Chapter five provides a detailed illustration of such program to support locomotion fluency. Chapter six illustrates a cluster-technology aimed at pursuing the dual goal of fostering an adaptive response and reducing a challenging behavior. Chapter seven refers to a computerized system focused on enabling a child with CP and intellectual delays with academic performance and communication opportunities. Whenever available, the effects on indices of happiness and/or positive participation were analyzed. Social validation procedures involving external raters were conducted. Practical features of the retained treatments were privileged. Clinical, educational, psychological, and rehabilitative implications of the findings were systematically and critically discussed. Caregivers, educators, families of children with CP, practitioners, psychologists, speech and occupational therapists, medicine or psychology students, and teachers may find some useful insights for both research and practice in daily life settings"--

An invaluable starting point for anyone encountering cerebral palsy for the first time, this book provides essential background information on causes, types and symptoms, as well as vital advice about the treatments, therapies and sources of support available. Practical tips on everyday considerations such as communication, diet and education will help parents achieve the best quality of life for their child. A final chapter explores options after compulsory education and how best to support a young person making the transition to independent adulthood. Using personal experience and case studies as sources of inspiration, as well as a comprehensive list of resources to signpost readers to further information, this positive handbook will help parents and professionals more fully understand cerebral palsy and the different options available to people with the condition.

Cerebral palsy presents stable encephalopathy that systemically influences on the child's and adult's organism. Orthopedic complications of cerebral palsy possess on the contrary progressive features and those complications cause gradual failure of motor ability of a person: impaired walking, loss of postural ability, reduced self-care and inclusion, finally quality of life becoming much worse. That is why orthopedic aspects are of great importance in children with cerebral palsy. This volume presents a collection of chapters covering a wide range of problems, from a system of universal classification of dysfunctions in Cerebral Palsy and practical issues of prevention of orthopedic complications orthopedic to surgery (diagnostics and quantitative interpretation of gait disorders in such patients, optimal methods of surgical intervention, hip surgery, spinal surgery) and aspects of nutritive status of this specific category of patients, associated comorbidities and their influence and connection with orthopedic problems. Furthermore, three chapters are dedicated to the anesthetic aspects of orthopedic surgery. The substantiation is given to the methods of combined anesthesia and sedation during surgery, as well as in the immediate postoperative period, taking into account concomitant epilepsy, increased intracranial pressure and spasticity in such children.Single-event multilevel orthopedic surgery is a recognized gold standard in ambulatory patients, though it varies according to gait patterns and associated orthopedic problems causing motor disorders. The book contains explanations and methodology of surgeries for conventional gait patterns, as well as in iatrogenic disorders caused by previous unreasonable interventions. The chapter on the correction of deformities and dysfunctions of the upper limb shows the first applied transfer of m.flexor cubitus ulnaris to the radius, which gave extremely positive results both in terms of function and aesthetics.Unfortunately, in Russia the number of CP patients with iatrogenic orthopedic disorders is high. Extremely negative consequences in the form of weakness of the triceps muscles after percutaneous fibromyotomies (so-called "Ulzibat method") or lengthening of the Achilles tendon in diplegia performed before the age of five years and before the development of muscle retraction lead to the development of crouch gait even in patients with high motor potential (GMFCS I, II). This complication of unreasonable surgical interventions develops in 5-7 years after primary surgery and in the opinion of doctors and parents is not related to previous procedures. This book, based on 3D-instrumented gait analysis, shows the features of iatrogenic crouch gait, as well as methods of surgical correction of this difficult situation.The data presented in this book are based, on the one hand, on the personal practical and scientific experience of each author, and on the other hand, the entire team of authors works in collaboration with each other, coordinating their decisions and interventions with colleagues, thus ensuring continuity in treatment of children and adults suffering from cerebral palsy.

A great starting point for parents and professionals when they first encounter cerebral palsy, this book provides essential information on causes, types, symptoms and treatments as well as practical tips on everyday considerations such as communication and diet. This positive handbook will help readers more fully understand cerebral palsy.

Fundamental to the successful treatment of children with cerebral palsy is the cooperation of parents in home handling. This new edition has been expanded and updated to include new information for therapists, parents, nurses and carers.

When a child with cerebral palsy is born into a family, it is a devastating event,- an event, which changes the family forever. This book has been written by the parent of such a child, who through many years of study, became qualified in child development and psychology. This book taps into the experience and knowledge, which has been gained through heartache and hard work. It offers a new rationale of treatment for children with cerebral palsy and other brain-injuries and gives hope to parents that they do not have to accept that their child cannot be helped to develop. The book gives clear explanations of and insights into the many complex difficulties, which children and families face; - but it also goes further than this in offering solutions. A 'must read' for any parent whose child suffers from brain-injuries.

When a child has a health problem, parents want answers. But when a child has cerebral palsy, the answers don't come quickly. A diagnosis of this complex group of chronic conditions affecting movement and coordination is difficult to make and is typically delayed until the child is eighteen months old. Although the condition may be mild or severe, even general predictions about long-term prognosis seldom come before the child's second birthday. Written by a team of experts associated with the Cerebral Palsy Program at the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, this authoritative resource provides parents and families with vital information that can help them cope with uncertainty. Thoroughly updated and revised to incorporate the latest medical advances, the second edition is a comprehensive guide to cerebral palsy. The book is organized into three parts. In the first, the authors describe specific patterns of involvement (hemiplegia, diplegia, quadriplegia), explain the medical and psychosocial implications of these conditions, and tell parents how to be effective advocates for their child. In the second part, the authors provide a wealth of practical advice about caregiving from nutrition to mobility. Part three features an extensive alphabetically arranged encyclopedia that defines and describes medical terms and diagnoses, medical and surgical procedures, and orthopedic and other assistive devices. Also included are lists of resources and recommended reading.

Completely revised and fully updated in light of the 2014 SEND Code of Practice, this edition familiarises readers with the specific learning needs of cerebral palsy. Offering practical tips and tried-and-tested strategies from professional practitioners, this accessible guide provides advice on how to meet the needs of young people with cerebral palsy. This new edition presents all of the information practitioners will need to know to deliver outstanding provision for young people with cerebral palsy and support the inclusion of children and young people with cerebral palsy into mainstream schools. The far-reaching advice found within this guide includes: Planning for a pupil with cerebral palsy Accessing the curriculum, including specific advice on each subject area How to make effective use of support staff Developing independence skills Liaising between home and school Making the transition into adulthood With accessible materials, such as checklists, templates and photocopiable resources, this up-to-date guide will enable teachers and other professionals to feel more confident and effective in the support they can provide.