Cerebral Palsy Headlines
News stories of interest to parents of children with cerebral palsy, from news sources around the Web.
Children With Cerebral Palsy Have Similar Quality Of Life To Other Children
Most children aged 8-12 years with cerebral palsy will have similar quality of life to other children. The findings should guide social and educational policy to ensure that disabled children participate fully in society, conclude authors of an Article published in a July 2007 edition of The Lancet.
See -- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070706145751.htm
Student develops therapeutic video game
Defying conventional wisdom, fourth-year U of T engineering student William Li has developed a new video game that has parents insisting their children sit in front of the screen and play for a good chunk of time.
But Li's game has a twist. It was developed for children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, a condition involving paralysis or partial paralysis of one side of the body. This side is affected by a range of muscle challenges like spasticity, tightness and impaired motion. Consequently, children tend to prefer using their unaffected side for all gross and fine motor skills.
See http://www.news.utoronto.ca/bin6/070110-2859.asp
Cerebral Palsy Declines in High-Risk Infants
British researchers are reporting a decline in cerebral palsy among the most vulnerable newborns, and American pediatricians say a similar trend is probably happening in the United States.
Data on 1,575 babies of very low birth weight or those born of multiple pregnancies at 16 European centers showed a decline in the prevalence of cerebral palsy from 60.6 per 1,000 in 1980 to 39.5 in 1996.
See http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=600678
Botox Treatments Improve Muscle Control
Botox, or botulinum toxin, offers a new, non-surgical option for improving the upper extremity function of children with cerebral palsy (CP), report researchers from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. L. Andrew Koman, M.D., orthopedic surgeon at Brenner Children's Hospital, and his team recently completed a study using Botox to treat muscle spasticity of the arm and hand in children with CP. In 1998, Koman and his team were the first worldwide to use Botox to treat muscle spasticity in CP patients.
See http://www.news-medical.net/?id=1122
Kids With Cerebral Palsy May Benefit From Intense Therapy
When her daughter Olivia was 4 months old, Kathy Krindl knew there was a problem. At 6 months, she found out what it was: cerebral palsy. The pediatrician, Krindl remembers, "didn't come right out and say her prognosis wasn't great. But the tone of voice, it was easy to interpret."
Cerebral palsy is a problem with motor movements and coordination due to damage to the brain -- of which the cause is not always known. Neither is the best way to help these children lead fulfilling lives, because the condition has no cure. The traditional standard has been physical therapy. But now, a growing number of parents are stepping outside the mainstream and getting their children involved in something called conductive education.
See http://www.webmd.com/news/20000821/kids-with-cerebral-palsy-may-benefit-from-intense-therapy
Other cerebral palsy resources:
United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) is the leading source of information on cerebral palsy and is a pivotal advocate for the rights of persons with any disability.National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (CDC)
Cerebral Palsy: Hope Through Research
March of Dimes: Their mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.
Kids Health.org - When Your Child Has Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation
American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine
Kids Help Online - User-friendly database of help resources for children and young adults, National Hotlines and a large, categorized library of helpful links.
Cerebral Palsy Connection (CPC) - Cerebral Palsy Connection exists to allow those with Cerebral Palsy or those caring for someone with CP to communicate with each other.
Living With Disability - A website and book for disabled patients, families and caretakers.
