About Me and my disability!

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="2da785a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>kevin-french.com</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="kevinfrench.com"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="kevinfrench.com"><U><B><IMG SRC="2c00e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="up" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>   </B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14"><B>     </B><A HREF="id69.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Articles about Kevin French"><U><B><IMG SRC="2c10e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="previous" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  </B><A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Politcal Articles"><U><B><IMG SRC="2c20e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="next" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#0099FF" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <IMG SRC="16aa77d0.jpg" border=0 width="167" height="125" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>About Me and my disability!  </I></div> <div> <B>What is cerebral palsy?        Scope saids</B></div> <bR> <div> Cerebral palsy is a very diverse and complex condition, ranging from very mild to profound, with no two people being affected in precisely the same way.</div> <div> There never has been a simple explanation. In 1984 P. Scrutton wrote, “The almost infinite variety (and the lack of a common language to describe this variety accurately) makes learning about it very difficult indeed.” (1)</div> <div> Cerebral palsy does not have a clear-cut single cause; it is not a specific condition - unlike Down's Syndrome for example - which is an identifiable chromosomal disorder.</div> <div> In cerebral palsy the brain impairment is non-progressive - it does not get worse or improve. However, the effects on the body may become more (or less) obvious as time goes by. Cerebral palsy is not infectious.</div> <div> Cerebral palsy, therefore, is a general term for a wide range of non-progressive cerebral (brain) disorders, which result in some sort of movement impairment, that becomes apparent during early childhood.</div> <div> <B>A Definition</B></div> <div> Cerebral palsy can be defined as “a persistent (but not unchanging) disorder of movement and posture, as the result of one or more non-progressive abnormalities in the brain, before its growth and development are complete. Other clinical signs may be present as well.” (World Commission for Cerebral Palsy - Cerebral Palsy: Problems and Practice)</div> <div> <B>Explanation of this definition</B></div> <div> Cerebral…means that the cause of the difficulties is in the brain - not in the muscles themselves. </div> <div> Palsy…can be taken as meaning having difficulties with movement and posture - i.e. a `motor control' impairment. </div> <div> Persistent…means that the effects of the brain impairment, on the person's movement and posture, do not go away. Therefore, cerebral palsy is present throughout the person's life. </div> <div> Not unchanging…movement patterns may change. This will occur as the baby/child develops, matures and/or as a result of therapeutic intervention, for example, physiotherapy. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="16301010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The characteristics of the motor disorder and the way the person is affected may alter significantly, particularly during the early years of life. This is because babies and young children grow and develop skills at such a fast rate during this period of rapid brain development. For example, muscles may at first be floppy, often referred to as low tone or hypotonia. As time goes by, those same muscles may become tight (high tone, hypertonia or spasticity). Similarly in the first months any potential difficulties may not be immediately obvious. It is possible for some signs not to show until the child is between twelve and eighteen months or older.</div> <div> `Disorder of movement and posture'…refers to the difficulties a person may have in co-ordinating their muscles to produce and control the movement required - i.e. a `motor control' disorder. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="04501010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> This may lead to being unable to position the body correctly, or in the way wanted, for example, when walking, sitting or whilst in bed.</div> <div> Non-progressive…refers to the fact that the brain impairment does not recover or deteriorate; the impairment is static - unchanging. </div> <div> Abnormality…means that the part(s) of the brain concerned with `motor control' were damaged and/or have not developed in the usual way. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="04501010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> (The word `lesion' is sometimes used to denote that an organ or tissue - the brain, in this instance - has been damaged and is not functioning correctly.) </div> <div> The dysfunction of the motor control part(s) of the brain is present `before the brain's growth and development are complete'.</div> <div> This means the impairment or lesion occurred during pregnancy, birth or early childhood - before the brain's growth and development has reached a certain level of maturity. The following quote explains further how age may influence diagnosis:</div> <div> "Insults to the brain that occur after eight years of age result in neurological impairments reminiscent of those observed in adults; similar insults prior to three years of age (including during the prenatal period), result in neurological impairments and motor outcomes - such as cerebral palsy - that are characteristic of injury to the immature brain. From three to eight, mixed patterns of neurological impairment are observed. An arbitrary upper age limit of five or six years has been suggested for assigning the diagnosis of cerebral palsy; however, in practice, the determination is typically made on a case by case basis." (2)</div> <div> Other clinical signs may be present as well… growing babies and children have to learn to use many other muscles besides those concerned with the co-ordination and movement of arms, legs, trunk etc. For example, the brain `learns' how to position and focus the eyes, make noises and sounds, chew food, control the muscles used when going to the toilet and those used for breathing. Therefore, there may also be difficulties for some children in these areas of function.</div> <div> In addition, because other areas of the brain may also have been affected there is a possibility of `associated' or `related' difficulties such as sensory or perceptual impairment. Other associated difficulties may include learning difficulties or epilepsy (seizures).</div> <div> Three different parts of the brain working together initiate and control the muscles that affect movement and posture. The part of the brain that is impaired determines how a person with cerebral palsy will be affected. There are three main types of cerebral palsy: </div> <div> <B>Spastic cerebral palsy</B> (spasticity) is caused by impairment in the cerebral cortex (the outer layer) of the brain. Disordered control of movement. </div> <div> <B>Athetoid cerebral palsy</B> (athetosis) is caused by impairment in the basal ganglia area of the brain. Involuntary spasms, jerky arm and leg movements. </div> <div> <B>Ataxic cerebral palsy</B> (ataxia) is caused by impairment in the cerebellum part of the brain. Lack of balance & spatial awareness. Unsteady walking/gait. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="04501010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> It is, however, quite common for people to have a combination of the above types.</div> <div> Cerebral palsy can be categorised further, by referring to the parts of the body affected.</div> <div> The three main categories are as follows: </div> <div> Diplegia is where both legs are affected more than the hands and arms. </div> <div> Hemiplegia occurs where one side of the body (including arm and leg) is affected. </div> <div> Quadriplegia/Tetraplegia means that all four limbs are involved together with, usually, the trunk and neck. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="04501010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Occasionally you may come across these categories: </div> <div> Monoplegia - used when only one limb is involved. </div> <div> Triplegia means that three limbs are affected - usually both legs and one arm. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="16801010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> However, you may find different categories may be used by different professionals. </div> <div> <B>Spastic cerebral palsy (Spasticity)</B> Spasticity is caused by impairment in the cerebral cortex (the outer layer) of the brain. This is the most common form of cerebral palsy. It is characterised by constant increased muscle tone and weakness in the parts of the body affected. This increased muscle tone (hypertonia) creates tightness (stiffness) in the muscles, leading to a decreased range of movement in the joints. The effects may increase with anxiety or increased effort, leading to excessive fatigue.</div> <div> <B>Athetoid cerebral palsy (Athetosis)</B> Athetosis is caused by impairment in the basal ganglia area of the brain. It is characterised by involuntary and uncontrollable muscle tone fluctuations, sometimes involving the whole body. The muscles alternate between being floppy and tense. There will often be difficulty in maintaining posture. The person usually has full range of movement in their joints, but not the stability or co-ordination to control their movements.</div> <div> Unwanted movements may be small, rapid, irregularly repetitive, random, jerky movements - sometimes referred to as choreic movements. The unwanted movements may also be of a long slow, writhing nature.</div> <div> Someone experiencing athetosis will often appear restless and constantly moving; being still only when fully relaxed - sometimes only when asleep. The movements will often become worse when the person is excited or is attempting to do something.</div> <div> Speech is nearly always affected to some degree, because of difficulty in controlling the tongue, breathing and vocal chords. Similarly there may be difficulties eating and, the person may drool (saliva coming out of the mouth).</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.scope.org.uk" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.scope.org.uk"><U><U>www.scope.org.uk</U></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>