What is Cerebral Palsy?
March 08, 2006Cerebral Palsy is a disorder that affects a person's body movements and muscle coordination. Cerebral Palsy is caused by damage to the brain before, during or shortly following birth. There are three types of Cerebral Palsy, including Spastic, which results in difficult and stiff movements; Ataxic, which causes loss of depth perception and sense of balance; and Athetoid, which causes uncontrolled and involuntary movements.
The area of the brain that has been damaged will determine how Cerebral Palsy will effect a person. The different effects include mental retardation, seizures, impairment of speech, hearing and sight, abnormal perception and sensation, problems in gait and mobility, involuntary movement and muscle spasm or tightness.