Cerebral Palsy : Symptoms

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Symptoms could include:
Seizures; Muscle contractions; Difficulty sucking or feeding; Irregular breathing; Delayed development of motor skills, such as reaching, sitting, rolling, crawling, walking, and so on; Motormental retardation; Mental retardation; Speech problems ...
Source:ADAM
Date:August 7, 2006
CP can be caused by a number of different mechanisms at various times of life, ranging from several weeks after conception, through birth, to early childhood. In the twentieth century, it was accepted that most cases of CP were due to brain injuri...
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Children's Health
By definition, the defect in cerebral function causing CP is nonprogressive. However, the symptoms of CP often change over time. Most of the symptoms of CP relate in some way to the aberrant control of muscles. To review, CP is categorized first b...
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders Part II
CP can be caused by a number of different mechanisms at various times—from several weeks after conception, through birth, and into early childhood. For many years it was accepted that most cases of CP were due to brain injuries received duri...
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health
As noted, CP has many causes, making a discussion of the genetics of CP complicated. A number of hereditary/genetic syndromes have signs and symptoms similar to CP, but usually also have problems not typical of CP. Put another way, some hereditary...
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
By definition, the defect in cerebral function causing CP is nonprogressive. However, the symptoms of CP often change over time. Most of the symptoms of CP relate in some way to the aberrant control of muscles. To review, CP is categorized first b...
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders Part I
CP is caused by damage to an infant's brain before, during or shortly after delivery. The part of the brain that is damaged determines what parts of the body are affected. There are a number of factors which appear to predispose a child to CP incl...
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders
The symptoms of CP are usually not noticeable at birth. As children develop in the first 18 months of life, however, they progress through a predictable set of developmental milestones. Children with CP will develop these skills more slowly becaus...
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine
Uncoordinated movement is an abnormality of muscle control or an inability to finely coordinate movements, resulting in a jerky, unsteady, to-and-fro motion of the trunk or the limbs.
Source:ADAM
Date:March 5, 2007
Ataxia, a medical term originated from the Greek language meaning " without order, " refers to disturbances in the control of body posture, motor coordination, speech control, and eye movements. Several brain areas, including the cerebellum and the spinocerebellar tracts, substantia nigra, pons, and cerebral cortex control these functions.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders
Lack of coordination in the muscles. Ataxia, an extreme lack of coordination of the muscles, is a symptom of damage to the central nervous system.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence
Developmental coordination disorder is diagnosed when children do not develop normal motor coordination (coordination of movements involving the voluntary muscles). Developmental coordination disorder has been known by many other names, some of which are still used today.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders
Delayed growth involves poor or abnormally slow gain in weight, height, or both, in a child younger than 5 years old.
Source:ADAM
Date:February 14, 2007
A developmental delay is any significant lag in a child ' s physical, cognitive, behavioral, emotional, or social development, in comparison with norms. Developmental delay refers to when a child ' s development lags behind established normal ranges for his or her age.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Children's Health
Any delay in a child ' s physical, cognitive, behavioral, emotional, or social development, due to any number of reasons. Developmental delay refers to any significant retardation in a child ' s physical, cognitive, behavioral, emotional, or social development.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence
Visual disturbances are abnormalities of sight. Visual disturbances associated with neurological disorders often include double vision (diplopia), moving or blurred vision due to nystagmus (involuntary rapid movements of the eyes), reduced visual acuity, reduced visual field, and partial or total loss of vision as in papilledema, a swelling of the optic disc, or in blindness.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders
A feeding disorder of infancy or early childhood is the failure of a young child to obtain adequate nutrition, which is reflected by weight loss or a failure to gain weight appropriately for development.
Source:ADAM
Date:October 11, 2007
Walking abnormalities are unusual and uncontrollable walk patterns, usually caused by diseases or injuries to the legs, feet, brain, spine, or inner ear.
Source:ADAM
Date:March 5, 2007
Hearing loss is the total or partial inability to hear sound in one or both ears. See also: Hearing loss of aging
Source:ADAM
Date:October 24, 2007
Most people over age 65 have some hearing loss, and by age 80, almost everyone does. Because hearing loss usually occurs slowly over the years, you may not realize your hearing ability has gotten worse.
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
As you age, some hearing loss is normal. You lose more than the ability to hear how loud a sound is. You also lose the ability to hear certain types of sounds. For example, you might not be able to hear some of the high-pitched sounds of a child's voice.
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
Hearing loss is any degree of impairment of the ability to comprehend sound. Sound can be accurately measured.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health
Hearing loss is any degree of impairment of the ability to apprehend sound. Sound can be measured accurately.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
Hearing impairment is the temporary or permanent loss of some or all hearing in one or both ears. There are three types of hearing impairment that occur in young children: conductive hearing loss, a usually temporary interference with the reception of sound from the outer ear to the middle or inner ear sensorineural hearing impairment, a permanent abnormality of the cochlear hair cells of the inner ear, the auditory nerve, or the auditory center of the brain mixed hearing impairment, a combination of conductive and sensorineural impairments Hearing impairments also are classified as prelingual (occurring before a child learns to speak) and post-lingual (occurring after the child has acquired language).
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Children's Health
Hearing begins in the womb- pregnant women have reported feeling the fetus move in response to loud noises at 31 weeks (7 weeks before full-term delivery). Newborns are sensitive to the location, frequency, pitch, and volume of sounds.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence
Hearing loss is any degree of impairment of the ability to apprehend sound. Sound can be measured accurately.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine
Uncontrollable movements are slow, twisting, continuous, and involuntary movements of the arms, legs, face, neck, or other parts of the body.
Source:ADAM
Date:March 5, 2007
Movement disorders are a group of diseases and syndromes affecting the ability to produce and control bodily movements. It seems simple and effortless, but normal movement requires an astonishingly complex system of control.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Children's Health
A normal breathing rate for an adult at rest is 8 to 16 breaths/minute. For an infant, a normal rate is up to 44 breaths/minute. Tachypnea is a medical term that your doctor would use to describe your breathing if it is too fast, particularly if you have rapid, shallow breathing due to an associated lung disease or other medical cause. In contrast, the term hyperventilation is usually used if you are taking rapid, deep breaths because of anxiety or panic. The terms may be used interchangeably, however.
Source:ADAM
Date:November 13, 2006
A contracture is a fixed tightening of muscle, tendons, ligaments, or skin. It prevents normal movement of the associated body part and can cause permanent deformity.
Source:ADAM
Date:September 21, 2006
Mental retardation is described as a condition that is diagnosed before age 18, and includes below-average general intellectual function, accompanied by impairment in the person?s ability to acquire the skills necessary for daily living.
Source:ADAM
Date:November 12, 2007
(Also called sociocultural or cultural-familial retardation) Mild mental retardation attributed to environmental causes and generally involving some degree of psychosocial disadvantage. The majority of persons suffering from mental retardation fall into the category of familial retardation rather than that of clinical retardation, which usually has neurological or other organic causes.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence
Mental retardation (MR) is a developmental disability that first appears in children under the age of 18. It is defined as a level of intellectual functioning (as measured by standard intelligence tests) that is well below average and results in significant limitations in the person ' s daily living skills (adaptive functioning).
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders
Mental retardation (MR) is a developmental disability that first appears in children under the age of 18. It is defined as a level of intellectual functioning (as measured by standard intelligence tests ) that is well below average and results in significant limitations in the person ' s daily living skills (adaptive functioning).
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders
Mental retardation is a developmental disability that first appears in children under the age of 18. It is defined as an intellectual functioning level (as measured by standard tests for intelligence quotient) that is well below average and significant limitations in daily living skills (adaptive functioning).
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
Mental retardation is a developmental disability that first appears in children under the age of 18. It is defined as an intellectual functioning level (as measured by standard tests for intelligence quotient) that is well below average and significant limitations in daily living skills (adaptive functioning).
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Children's Health
Below-average intellectual abilities that are present before the age of 18 and interfere with developmental processes and with the ability to function normally in daily life (adaptive behavior). The term mental retardation is commonly used to refer to people with an intelligence quotient (IQ) below 70.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence
Uncontrolled or slow movement is defined as an impairment of the muscle tone (usually in large muscle groups), causing slow involuntary contractions of the head, limbs, trunk, or neck.
Source:ADAM
Date:June 11, 2007
Dystonia is a group of complex neurological movement disorders. While the disorders vary in their symptoms, causes, progression, and treatment, dystonia is characterized by involuntary muscle contractions and spasms that result in abnormal postures and movements.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders Part I
Dystonia is a group of complex neurological movement disorders. While the disorders vary in their symptoms, causes, progression, and treatment, dystonia is characterized by involuntary muscle contractions and spasms that result in abnormal postures and movements.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders Part II
Dystonia is a disabling movement disorder characterized by sustained contraction of muscles leading to twisting distorted postures. Dystonia may affect various parts of the body and has multiple causes, making classification and diagnosis challenging.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders
Spasticity is marked by stiff or rigid muscles and exaggerated, deep tendon reflexes. The condition can interfere with walking, movement, or speech. See also muscle spasticity .
Source:ADAM
Date:March 5, 2007
Spasticity is a form of muscle overactivity. A spastic muscle is one in which a muscle resists being stretched out, and the resistance to stretch is greater the faster the muscle is moved.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders
Spasticity is an abnormal increase in muscle tone. It may be associated with involuntary muscle spasms , sustained muscle contractions (dystonia), and exaggerated deep tendon reflexes that make movement difficult or uncontrollable.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Children's Health
Hypotonia involves decreased muscle tone. Infants with hypotonia seem floppy and feel like a "rag doll" does when held.
Source:ADAM
Date:November 9, 2007
Hypotonia means " low tone, " and refers to a physiological state in which a muscle has decreased tone, or tension. A muscle ' s tone is a measure of its ability to resist passive elongation or stretching.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders
Hypotonia, or severely decreased muscle tone, is seen primarily in children. Low-toned muscles contract very slowly in response to a stimulus and cannot maintain a contraction for as long as a normal muscle.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Children's Health
A seizure is a sudden change in behavior due to an excessive electrical activity in the brain.
Source:ADAM
Date:August 6, 2007
A seizure is a sudden change in behavior characterized by changes in sensory perception (sense of feeling) or motor activity (movement) due to an abnormal firing of nerve cells in the brain. Epilepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent seizures that may include repetitive muscle jerking called convulsions.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders
A seizure is a sudden change in behavior characterized by changes in sensory perception (sense of feeling) or motor activity (movement) due to an abnormal firing of nerve cells in the brain . Epilepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent seizures that may include repetitive muscle jerking called convulsions.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders
A temporary series of uncontrollable muscle spasms brought on by unusual electrical activity in the brain. Also known as convulsion, clonic seizure, or tonic-clonic seizure.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence
Children with epilepsy may have seizures only once in a while, or every day. Though seizures can be scary for parents and caregivers, they aren’t painful and are usually brief.
Source:StayWell
Date:July 16, 2004
First Aid: SeizuresA seizure results from a sudden rush of abnormal electrical signals in the brain. Symptoms may range from a minor daze to uncontrollable muscle spasms(convulsion).In some cases, the victim may even lose consciousness.
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
A charley horse is the common name for a muscle spasm, particularly in the leg. Muscle spasms can occur in any muscle in the body. When a muscle is in spasm, it contracts involuntarily and does not relax.
Source:ADAM
Date:August 6, 2007
Muscle spasms and cramps are spontaneous, often painful muscle contractions. Most people are familiar with the sudden pain of a muscle cramp.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine
Dysarthria is a speech diagnostic term that can be used to classify various types of neuromuscular speech disturbances. Dysarthria results from notable degrees of one or more abnormalities involving speech musculature, including weakness, paralysis, incoordination, sensory deprivation, exaggerated reflex patterns, uncontrollable movement activities, and excess or reduced tone.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders
What Is Dysarthria?Dysarthriais a speech problem caused by a lack of control over muscles in the face and mouth.
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
Treating DysarthriaDysarthria occurs when the part of the brain that controls speech production is damaged. When this happens, the muscles needed to make certain sounds can’t be used fully.
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
Dysarthria is a group of speech impairments due to weakness, incoordination, spasticity, rigidity, or irregular movements caused by damage to the nervous system. Speech abilities depend on the coordinated function of muscles of respiration, phonation (larynx), and articulation.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health
Bruxism is when you clench or grind your teeth. The term clenching means you tightly clamp your top and bottom teeth together, especially the back teeth. The stressful force of clenching causes pressure on the muscles, tissues, and other structures around your jaw. This can lead to jaw joint disorders, jaw pain and soreness, headaches, earaches, damaged teeth, and other problems. These symptoms are often collectively referred to as "TMJ" or temperomandibular joint problems . Many people who clench also grind their teeth. Grinding is when you slide your teeth over each other, generally in a sideways, back-and-forth movement. This action may wear down your teeth and be noisy enough at night to bother sleeping partners. Like clenching, grinding can lead to jaw pain and other problems.
Source:ADAM
Date:April 24, 2008
Bruxism is the habit of clenching and grinding the teeth. It most often occurs at night during sleep, but it may also occur during the day.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
Bruxism is a habitual grinding or clenching of the teeth. The behavior is usually unconscious, occurs most often during sleep, and is a reaction to periods of stress in the patient's life.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health
Bruxism is the habit of clenching and grinding the teeth. It most often occurs at night during sleep, but may also occur during the day.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine
Gait and balance problems exist when a disease process, trauma, or aging result in the inability to control one ' s center of gravity (COG) over the base of support (BOS) in static or dynamic tasks and environments. Any number of factors may contribute to gait and balance problems.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health
Gait or walking is a coordinated action of the neuromuscular and musculoskeletal systems. The coordination of muscle contraction , joint movement, and sensory perception allows the human body to move in the environment.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health
Gait training refers to helping a patient relearn to walk safely and efficiently. Gait training is usually done by rehabilitation specialists who evaluate the abnormalities in the person ' s gait and employ such treatments as strengthening and balance training to improve stability and body perception as these pertain to the patient ' s environment.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health
Total blindness is the inability to tell light from dark, or the total inability to see. Visual impairment or low vision is a severe reduction in vision that can ' t be corrected with standard glasses or contact lenses and reduces a person ' s ability to function at certain or all tasks.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
What Is Low Vision?When you have low vision, you need more than glasses or contact lenses to see well enough to get around and do day-to-day tasks.
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
Treatment for Low VisionUsing vision aids can help you do the things you need and want to do. There are many kinds of vision aids.
Source:StayWell
Date:August 14, 2003
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