Most people assume cerebral palsy (CP) is caused by just one reason: a lack of oxygen to a baby's brain at birth.
A recent report convened by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists challenges that assumption and gives credence to the fact that there is not a single cause of cerebral palsy. Researchers found that just 6 to 10 percent of CP cases result from a problem at delivery, while roughly 75 to 90 percent of CP cases are caused by something before labor, including maternal infections, strokes, prematurity, and other prenatal problems.
"Cerebral palsy is a movement disorder that affects about two to three of every 1,000 children," explains Dr. Steve Kinsman, the director of pediatric neurology at the University of Maryland Hospital for Children. "It is very difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of cerebral palsy. We know that a child has suffered from brain damage, but many times, we don't know why, though we are getting better at diagnosing causes with more advanced imaging and metabolic and genetic tests," adds Kinsman.
Most children are diagnosed with the disorder when they are two or three years old, though there are typically signs of CP in babies, including breathing problems, poor muscle tone, and difficulty walking. Cerebral palsy is most often diagnosed by analyzing how a child moves.
There are varying degrees of severity. Some children may not be able to walk or talk, while others can move more easily. Almost immediately after a child is diagnosed, he or she will begin physical therapy to help develop muscle strength and motor skills. Cerebral palsy does not get progressively worse as a child ages. The majority of children learn to thrive, despite their limitations.
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