cause the clear indicators of cerebral palsy are rarely present at or shortly after birth, a definitive diagnosis often occurs when a child is several months to several years old. Because of this, valuable early therapies and treatments can sometimes be delayed. There are, however, birth events that signal "high risk" babies and milestones that, if missed, can also be strong indications of a potential problem.
Brain damage occurring prior to, during or just after birth can result in "cerebral palsy," a condition that impairs the brain's ability to effectively control muscles. The area of the brain damaged determines what muscles in the body are most affected. Some of the conditions known to cause cerebral palsy include: untreated infections in the mother, substance abuse during pregnancy, physical abuse during pregnancy, premature births, lack of oxygen to the fetus, breech birth and head injuries during the birthing process.
Young children do not reach all milestones at the exact same age no matter how healthy they are. There are, however, guidelines that can help you know what to look for and where your child falls on the developmental spectrum. If you are concerned your child is developmentally lagging, do not hesitate bringing this up with the child's doctor. Trust your instincts. There's very little down side to "better safe than sorry," when it comes to early detection of developmental impairments.
Developmental milestone guidelines list age-specific tasks and functional skill that MOST children reach by a certain age. Children that have suffered a brain injury may reach these milestones later than others, often with the help of specific therapies or, in some cases, not at all.
The manifestations of cerebral palsy vary greatly in terms of type and severity, so any "guide," including this one, is just that... a guide. Again, if you suspect developmental anomalies, seek appropriate health care professionals for guidance. Here are some indications that there could be a problem:
AGE 2 MONTHS AND UP: 1) infant has difficulty controlling their head when picked up 2) they have shaky or stiff extremities 3) their legs tend to cross (scissor) when picked up 4) they have difficulty feeding and sucking
AGE 6 MONTHS AND UP: 1) any of the above problems persist 2) infant reaches with only one hand and/or keeps the other one in a fist 3) eating and drinking continue to be a problem 4) infant cannot roll over on their own 5) infant cannot push up with their hands when laying on stomach
AGE 10 MONTHS AND UP: 1) any of the above problems persist 2) when crawling, infant pushes off with one hand or leg while dragging the other 3) infant does not crawl or sit up by oneself
AGE 12 MONTHS: 1) any of the above problems persist 2) cannot stand on own without support
There are six basic developmental skills key to all learning and development: gross motor, fine motor, sensory, language, social and emotional.
GROSS MOTOR SKILLS allow infants to reach milestones such as sitting, crawling, walking, and head control. FINE MOTOR SKILLS allow grasping small objects such as crackers or a spoon. SENSORY MOTOR SKILLS allow an infant to develop the sense of sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste. Impairments to Sensory Skills can result in either "HYPERsensitivity," where children seem intolerant to light and sound and dislike being touched or "HYPOsensitivity," the opposite, where children do not respond to loud sounds and seem to seek stimulation. LANGUAGE SKILLS refer to the development of the muscles in the mouth and tongue necessary to control sound as well as the ability to hear and process sounds correctly. By 5 months, an infant should react to loud sounds and turn their head towards the source of that sound. They should also make sounds reflecting pleasure or displeasure such as laughing, giggling, crying and fussing. SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS, which are linked in the first year of development, should include crying to express distress or attract attention, fixating on faces, responding favorably to cuddling, smiling purposefully at certain people, responding to their name and exhibiting anxiety in the presence of a stranger.
Normal child development requires the active participation of all care-givers. Children deprived of a loving, nurturing, stimulation environment will experience developmental delays regardless of the health of t
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