Cerebral Palsy

Handbook

NOTE: This is an informational booklet to help families and parents understand more about Kidney failure in children. This is general
booklet made with the purpose of helping you understand what this particular disease consists of. Information is subjective and may
vary on a case-by-case basis. Please make sure any practices followed are advised by your doctor.
 Index

Introduction 01
I. What is Cerebral Palsy? 01
II. Types of Cerebral Palsy 03

Symptoms & Causes 05

I. Symptoms 05
II. Causes of Cerebral Palsy 06

Treatments 07

Home Care 09

Coping Mechanisms 11

Helpful Resources 13

Bibliography 14

NOTE: This is an informational booklet to help families and parents understand more about Kidney failure in children. This is general
booklet made with the purpose of helping you understand what this particular disease consists of. Information is subjective and may
vary on a case-by-case basis. Please make sure any practices followed are advised by your doctor.
 Introduction Pariental
Lobe
II. Types of Cerebral Palsy
SAPSTIC DYSKINETIC
Occipital
Frontal Lobe The three main types of cerebral
Lobe
palsy are:

1. Spastic – this type involves muscle

Human Brain Anotomy spasms and tightness.
2. Dyskinetic – this type involves
problems primarily with muscle
control.
ATAXIC
Temporal 3. Mixed – involves features of both
Lobe
Cerebellum
the spastic and dyskinetic types.

I. What is Cerebral Palsy

CP can also be classified into
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affects a person’s
ability to move and maintain balance or posture. It is the most subtypes based on what part of
common motor disability in childhood. Cerebral means having to the body they affect. These
do with the brain, and Palsy means weakness or problems with subtypes include:
using muscles.
Ÿ Diplegic – Affects arms and legs.
Cerebral palsy is a problem that affects areas including movement,
muscle tone, and coordination. It happens when the brain cannot Ÿ Quadriplegic – Affects all your
properly send signals or messages to muscles regarding smooth or limbs.
Arms
well-coordinated movement. This disorder can also affect other Body
Ÿ Hemiplegic – Affects one side
body functions that involve motor skills and muscles, like
of your body (left or right)
breathing, bladder control, bowel control, eating, and talking.
more than the other.
CP is a neurological condition that is classified as a motor Ÿ Monoplegic – Affects only one
development disorder. It can be the result of damage to the brain limb.
during fetal development or other developmental disabilities that Limbs
can affect the way the brain develops in a fetus, like lack of oxygen Ÿ Paraplegic – Affects your legs.
to the fetus when in the womb. The signs and symptoms of CP Legs
appear early in childhood and generally vary widely from person to
person.

01 02
 Additional symptoms that are generally exhibited
by children with CP include:

Ÿ Lack of muscle coordination when performing

voluntary movements.
Ÿ Stiff or tight muscles and exaggerated reflexes.
Ÿ Weakness in one or more arm or leg.
Ÿ Walking on toes or a crouched gait.
Ÿ Variations in muscle tone, either too stiff or
too floppy.
Ÿ Shaking and tremors, or random involuntary
movements.
Ÿ Delays in reaching milestones of motor skills.
Ÿ Difficulty in precise movements like writing or
Symptoms & Causes buttoning a shirt.

Early signs that can signify CP:

I. Symptoms In children older than
In children younger than 6 months of age: 10 months of age:
Doctors diagnose CP by looking for certain markers in babies who are
born early or who have certain health problems that may put them at Ÿ Head lags when picked up while they’re
a risk for developing CP. These are: lying on their backs. Ÿ Their crawl is
Ÿ The child feels excessively stiff. lopsided, and one
side of their body is
Ÿ Development delays, like not reaching for toys by 4 months or not Ÿ Their legs get stiff and cross or scissor dragging.
sitting up by 7 months. when picked up.
Ÿ They cannot stand
Ÿ Motor skill problems like being unable to crawl, walk, or move
even while holding
arms and legs in the usual ways. on to support.
In children older than 6 months of age:
Ÿ Uncoordinated movements.
Ÿ Muscle tone that is too tight or too loose. Ÿ They don’t roll over in either direction.
Ÿ Infant reflexes (like the “hands in fists” reflex) that stay beyond Ÿ They cannot bring their hands together.
ages at which they’re usually gone. Ÿ They have difficulties bringing their
hands to their mouth.
Ÿ Their hands remain in tight fists.
03 04
II. Causes of Cerebral Palsy

In many cases, the causes of CP aren’t

known, because many factors can affect
the development of the brain. Some
include:

Premature babies, or
babies born early, have a
Ÿ Gene mutations that result in genetic higher chance of having CP
disorders or differences in brain than full-term babies.
development. Additionally, low-
Ÿ Maternal infections that affect
birthweight babies and
developing fetus. multiple births, such as
twins or triplets, are at a
Ÿ Fetal stroke which causes a disruption of higher risk for developing
blood supply to the developing brain. CP and need to be
monitored post-delivery.
Ÿ Bleeding into the brain in the womb or as a
newborn.

Ÿ Infant infections that cause inflammation

in or around the brain.

Ÿ Traumatic head injury to an infant, such as

from a fall or a motor vehicle accident.

Ÿ Lack of oxygen to the brain related to

difficult labor or delivery.

05 06
 General treatments include any of the following:

Ÿ Physical and Occupational Therapy: Therapies like these

can help a person with CP learn how to handle everyday
needs and tasks. These therapies can help build strength
and mobility and improve the lifestyle of affected
individuals.

Ÿ Speech Therapy: People with CP may have trouble

E communicating, and difficulties in muscle control can
lead to speech impairments. Speech therapy can help
them when they have issues that affect their ability to
talk, again aimed at improving the overall quality of life
for the patient.

Ÿ Medications: These are used for the treatment of seizures,

Treatment of Cerebral Palsy muscle tightness, spasms, and other effects of CP. The
dosages and medicines administered depend greatly on
the symptoms and effects of the individual affected and
can also treat conditions that happen simultaneously like
Cerebral palsy can’t be cured, but treatment can often improve a mental health disorders.
child’s capabilities and motor functions. Many children are able
to manage their disabilities, and the earlier the treatment begins Ÿ Surgeries: Surgery can help reduce muscle spasms directly.
the better chance children have of overcoming developmental Some surgeries can also involve implanting medication
disabilities, including CP. pumps to deliver medications consistently and to provide
long term therapy. Surgery can also correct joint and
Treatments and therapies are decided on spine problems and even involve implanting electrical
by a team of doctors, with the goals of brain stimulators to help modulate brain activity.
targeting the areas that are affecting
the child the most and seeking to Ÿ Mental Health Therapy: People with CP often experience
improve the quality of the affected symptoms of depression and anxiety. Being provided
i n d i v i d u a l ’s l i f e . T h e r e f o r e , with mental health therapy, like access to counsellors,
treatments vary from patient to can help coping with these conditions.
patient, and different patients see
different results. Ÿ Social Work and Educational Support: Social workers,
education specialists and other experts can offer
supportive care and services that can help with
additional support required by patients in school and
other aspects of everyday life.
07 08

How can you help your child from home?
Monitor the diet of your child.
It can be helpful to maintain a
diet of foods that help
strengthen bones and muscles.
Your doctors might prescribe
medicines, but calcium-rich
foods may help bone strength
as well.
Home Care
Helping your child be
active in whatever
capacity possible. Help
them walk (if they can),
play, and move as much
as possible.
09
Trying to help your child
adjust to life, encouraging
positive outlets of
emotions including open
discussions, art, reading,
writing, or other hobbies
your child enjoys.
Making sure that therapies
and home-remedies or
exercises given by the doctors
are followed and staying on
track with treatments
referred to by all the doctors
involved in trying to improve
your child’s lifestyle.
10
 Coping Mechanisms
Create a Supportive
Environment:
Ÿ Encourage emotional expression
and provide a safe space for your
child to share their fears and
concerns.
Ÿ Surround your family with a
strong support network of
friends, family, and support
groups.
Engage in Relaxation
Techniques:
Practice relaxation exercises
like deep breathing or
meditation to manage stress.
Celebrate Small Victories:
Acknowledge and celebrate
each milestone achieved during
treatment. Try and celebrate any
small victories or progress
through therapies.
11
Self-Care for Parents/ Positive Distractions:
Caregivers: Engage in activities your child enjoys,
Ÿ Take care of your physical such as reading, watching movies, or
and mental well-being. You playing games. These positive
need to be healthy and distractions can provide a lot of
resilient to support your happiness and normalcy for your child,
child effectively. your family and yourself.
Ÿ Allow yourself breaks and
time to decompress. Caring
for your own needs is
essential.
Variations in Routine:
Variations in Routine: Small variations
in daily routines, exposure to different
environments that take time off from
regular routine can help all people,
including individuals living with
cerebral palsy and their caregivers.
12
Helpful Resources
Amrit Foundation of India
The Amrit Foundation of India’s flagship program, The Little Peepul Tree,
aims to create a level playing field for children with intellectual and
development disabilities, giving everyone a chance to succeed. They do so by
creatin new knowledge, sharing critical resources and building networks of
support, and their focus is on Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, and
intellectual disabilities.
Website: https://amritfoundationofindia.in/understand-the-challenges/cerebral-palsy/
Email: team@amritindia.in | Phone: +91-11 26520998 / +91-11 40634810
Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy
The IICP offers a multitude of services to infants, children and adults with
cerebral palsy, and a range of training programs for people with disabilities,
parents and family members, and other personnel working in the community.
The Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy (IICP) is a specialist resource center for cerebral
palsy. It has national and international links, working with grassroot NGOs in various
states of India as well as with advocacy groups internationally for the implementation
of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Website: https://applfoundation.in/en/projects/support-cerebral-palsy-iicp
Email: info@applfoundation.in
13
Bibliography
Care, Best. "4 Tips for Providing Home Care for Cerebral Palsy." Best Care, 26 Mar.
2020,
bestcaremn.com/blog/providing-home-care-for-cerebral-palsy/
"Cerebral Palsy - Symptoms and Causes." Mayo Clinic, 1 Sept. 2021,
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cerebral-palsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20353999
"Cerebral Palsy (CP)." Nemours KidsHealth - the Web's Most Visited Site About
Children's Health,
kidshealth.org/en/parents/cerebral-palsy.html
"Cerebral Palsy." National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke,
www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/cerebral-palsy
"Cerebral Palsy; Symptoms, Causes, Management & Treatment." Cleveland Clinic,
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8717-cerebral-palsy
Moawad, Heidi. "Coping With Cerebral Palsy." Very Well Health, 10 Apr. 2022,
www.verywellhealth.com/cerebral-palsy-coping-support-and-living-well-
4160517#:~:text=Exposure%20to%20a%20different%20environment,places%20that%20
accommodate%20one%27s%20abilities
"What is Cerebral Palsy?" Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2 May 2022,
www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/cp/facts.html#:~:text=Cerebral%20palsy%20(CP)%20is%20a,proble
ms%20with%20using%20the%20muscles
14
 Booklet by Sia Kapoor
in affiliation with SRCC Hospital

Graphics by Kiran Sali