top of page

Cerebral Palsy (CP)

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurological motor disorder that affects children in their infancy or early childhood. It is characterized by difficulties in body movement and muscle coordination due to brain anomalies that control muscle movements. The language areas of the brain can be impacted and some individuals have  difficulty with feeding and swallowing functions or communicating basic wants and needs.

cerebral-palsy-boca-raton-speech-therapy

Our Boca Raton Speech Therapist Can Help!

What are the Three Types of Cerebral Palsy?

 

According to the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation the types of cerebral palsy are:

 

  • Spastic- The most common form of cerebral palsy. Muscles feel stiff and tight and involves damage to the motor cortex.

​

  • Ataxic- Characterized by shaky movements and affects balance and sense of positioning in space. This is often caused by cerebellum damage. 

​

  • Dyskinetic- Characterized by involuntary movements (i.e. out of a person’s control) and  is separated further into two different groups; athetoid and dystonic. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the basal ganglia.

​

What Causes Cerebral Palsy?

​

Cerebral palsy occurs before, during or directly after birth due to brain injury or brain malformation. Each child’s motor function and intellectual abilities vary contingent upon the location, nature and severity of the brain injury.

​

What is the Treatment for Cerebral Palsy?

​

While there is currently no cure for cerebral palsy, effective speech-language intervention can help increase oral muscle function and enhance feeding and swallowing skills. A speech-language pathologist can also aid in achieving appropriate postural support to enhance vocal quality, and help with overall communication skills.

Our South Florida Pediatric Speech Therapists treat children with Cerebral Palsy.

If you would like to schedule your child for an evaluation please contact us here.

bottom of page