Athetoid Cerebral Palsy

It has been estimated that about 10 percent of children with cerebral palsy have athetoid cerebral palsy. This type of cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the cerebellum or basal ganglia. It is these areas of the brain that are responsible for processing the signals that enable smooth, coordinated movements as well as for maintaining body posture.

Damage to the cerebellum or basal ganglia may cause a child to develop involuntary, purposeless movements. Such movements are very noticeable in the face, arms, and trunk. These unintentional movements interfere with overall efficiency by impacting speaking, feeding, reaching, grasping, and other skills requiring coordinated movements. Actions like involuntary grimacing and tongue thrusting, generally lead to problems with swallowing, drooling and slurred speech.

It has been observed that these movements often increase during periods of emotional stress and totally disappear during sleep. Children with athetoid cerebral palsy often have low muscle tone and experience a lot of difficulty maintaining posture for sitting and walking. People suffering from athetoid cerebral palsy have so many involuntary writhing movements that they are constantly in motion. They also have difficulties with speech as lack of muscle control makes articulation of words difficult.

Athetoid cerebral palsy results from damage caused to the basal ganglia in the midbrain.

Athetoid cerebral palsy affects about 10% of children who are diagnosed with a form of cerebral palsy. Despite all the advances made by science, cerebral palsy is not a curable condition. However, hospitals provide coordinated, comprehensive multidisciplinary medical assistance. This is because children diagnosed with cerebral palsy need special health care on a regular basis to prevent or treat complications.

Preventive treatment will go a long way in maximizing their independence. Specialized physiotherapy can help train patients to perform simple tasks by themselves. Treatment procedures of any kind for cerebral palsy are aimed at lessening discomforts and improving the quality of life of the patient.

Cerebral Palsy provides detailed information on Cerebral Palsy, Spastic Cerebral Palsy, Cerebral Palsy Physical Therapy, Athetoid Cerebral Palsy and more. Cerebral Palsy is affiliated with Multiple Sclerosis Treatments.