About 500,000 children and adults in the United States manifest one or more of the symptoms of Cerebral palsy. However, many people still don’t know much about this group of disorders and what treatment looks like. Here’s some important information about Cerebral palsy from our PPEC in Doral.

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy (CP) is 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, affecting hundreds of thousands of children in the United States alone. Cerebral palsy is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to a developing brain, affecting your ability to control your muscles.

Because CP is an entire group of disorders, the symptoms vary from person to person, and there are multiple different types of Cerebral palsy. For example, if you have severe CP, you might need to use special walking equipment. You may not be able to walk at all and could require lifelong care. But if you have mild CP, you likely won’t need special care, even if you may walk a little awkwardly. CP does not worsen over time, but symptoms can change over the years.

No matter what a person’s CP looks like, all people who experience 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 (such as scoliosis); or joint problems (such as contractures).

Different forms of CP correlate to the different symptoms each one causes, and this is how doctors diagnose a patient’s form of CP. Depending on which areas of the brain are affected, one or more of the following movement disorders can occur:

Stiff muscles (spasticity)
Uncontrollable movements (dyskinesia)
Poor balance and coordination (ataxia)

Cerebral Palsy Treatment

While there is, unfortunately, no cure for Cerebral palsy, treatment can vastly improve the lives of those who have the condition. It is important to begin a treatment program as early as possible, so early diagnoses are crucial.

CP is often diagnosed in children at a young age. After your child’s doctor makes a diagnosis, a team of health professionals will work with your child and family to develop a treatment plan. Common treatments include medicines, surgery, braces, and physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

No single treatment is the best one for all children who have Cerebral palsy. Before deciding on a treatment plan, it is important to talk to your child’s doctor to understand the risks and benefits and which treatment centers they recommend. At First Kid’s PPEC, we work with several hospitals and medical centers to start helping children with CP as early as possible.

As we mentioned, medications are often a part of a child’s treatment plan for Cerebral palsy. Medications that help control spastic movements, seizures, relieve pain and manage other symptoms and related conditions include:

Baclofen or other muscle relaxants
Diazepam
Anticonvulsants
Anticholinergics
Antacids
Stool softeners/laxatives
Sleep aids

In addition, surgery is a critical part of treatment for many children with CP, as certain surgical procedures may improve mobility or help patients with the physical pain of cerebral palsy. Standard procedures include tendon or muscle release, the repair of hip dislocations, and scoliosis surgery.

Therapy treatments can improve physical, mental, social, and learning deficits. If started early, therapies for Cerebral palsy can reduce impairment and lessen the risk of developing other associated conditions. Common types of therapy that help children with Cerebral palsy include

Physical
Occupational
Behavioral
Speech/Language
Feeding
Aqua
Horse and animal
Music
Play
Bowel program

PPEC Cerebral Palsy Treatment in Doral

At First Kid’s PPEC, we treat children with various conditions, including Cerebral palsy. Our team of medical professionals, including doctors and nurses, offers all of these treatments for your child with CP.

Speech Therapy

Our licensed speech therapists work with your child to improve their overall day-to-day communication skills and vocabulary.

Behavioral Therapy

Our licensed behavioral analysts work with your child to promote positive behavior and establish good habits for everyday behavior.

Nutritious Meals

Our patients receive two meals and a snack each day based on their dietary requirements to promote healthy nutrition and health.

Transportation

Transportation to and from the home, to and from doctor’s visits, as well as from school to our center for those patients that are enrolled in class.

Special Education

Our licensed special education instructors provide daily teaching from lesson plans tailored for your child based on their grade level.

Respiratory Therapy

Our therapy and nursing teams guide your child through a set of respiratory exercises to promote, recover, and enhance lung functionality.

Physical Therapy

Our licensed physical therapists work with your child to promote, maintain, or restore health leveraging a variety of state-of-the-art exercises and techniques.

Occupational Therapy

Our licensed occupational therapists help your child develop, recover, improve, and maintain the skills needed for daily living.

We provide our patients with personalized, high-quality care while also providing the best resources to help them heal or improve upon their current medical conditions. At First Kid’s PPEC in Doral, our mission is for our patients to make strides to improve each day.