Diagnosis+and+ministry+designation

__** Diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy **__ Cerebral Palsy is a condition that affects the ability to move and control movements. It results from damage to the brain. "Cerebral" refers to the brain and "Palsy" refers to a lack of muscle control. The damage interferes with messages sent from the brain to the body or from the body to the brain.

The causes of cerebral palsy are not always known. Some brain damage occurs before birth or during delivery but the condition can be acquired later, as a result of a head injury. Children with cerebral palsy usually show symptoms within the first three years of life and a diagnosis is established after doctors test motor skills and look for slow development, abnormal muscle tone and unusual posture.

The extent of cerebral palsy can vary from mild to severe. T wo students with the same physical disability may have very different levels of need. Some children with cerebral palsy have normal learning skills and intellectual development. Some are able to care for themselves and to walk unaided. Others might suffer from mild speech impairment to no speech at all. They might have a severe lack of muscle coordination and require the use of a wheelchair. While one student is impaired in mobility, independence and cognitive ability, another student with the same diagnosis may participate completely independently in a regular education program.

__ Three Main Types of Cerebral Palsy: __ - Spastic cerebral palsy : It is the most common type of cerebral palsy. M uscles are contracted all the time and limbs feel stiff, making moving difficult. They may also have a hard time holding and letting go of objects.

- Athetoid: Movements are involuntary and uncontrolled because messages from the brain to the muscles are not coordinated. These movements occur all the time and, in particular, may interfere with speech. Students often have low muscle tone and have trouble holding themselves in an upright, steady position which makes sitting and walking problematic.

- Ataxic: It is a rare from of cerebral palsy. It affects the sense of balance and depth perception which results in awkward and unsteady movements of the hands and feet. Motor skills such as writing, typing, or using scissors might be affected, as well as balance, especially while walking.