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What Is Dysphagia, and How Can it Affect a Child With Cerebral Palsy?
Children with cerebral palsy may experience a wide variety of physical and mental impairments that affect their health and well-being and their ability to live a normal life. Difficulty with swallowing foods and liquids is one issue that commonly affects those with CP, and this condition is known as dysphagia or oral-motor dysfunction. Parents of children with CP will want to understand how this issue may affect their child and the steps they can take to ensure that their son or daughter receives the proper nutrition while avoiding further injuries.
What Causes Dysphagia?
Young people who suffer from cerebral palsy may have limited muscle control, making it difficult for them to move food from their mouth, through their esophagus, and to their stomach. Oropharyngeal dysphagia may occur due to abnormal development or weakness of muscles in the mouth and throat. Esophageal dysphagia may occur because of malformation of muscles in the esophagus, causing food to become dislodged after it is swallowed and before reaching the stomach.
Will My Child With Cerebral Palsy Need to Use a Feeding Tube?
If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, you will want to understand how you can provide the best care for your son or daughter. One issue that parents may be concerned about is whether their child will need assistance with feeding and nutrition. Studies have found that within their first year of life, 57 percent of children with cerebral palsy have problems with sucking, and 38 percent have problems with swallowing. In addition, over 90 percent of children with CP have significant oral motor dysfunction. Because of these issues, children may require intervention to ensure they receive the proper nutrition, and in some cases, a feeding tube may be necessary.
G-Tube Placement
Feeding tubes that deliver food and liquids directly to a child’s stomach are known as gastronomy tubes or G-tubes. A surgical procedure will be performed to create an opening known as a stoma in the abdomen and the wall of the stomach, and the tube will be inserted through this opening. A child will usually be placed under general anesthesia during this type of surgery. Depending on the child’s needs and whether other surgical procedures need to be performed at the same time, laparoscopic techniques may be used to insert the tube through small incisions, or open surgery involving larger incisions may be necessary.
What Are the Benefits of CBD Oil to Treat Cerebral Palsy Symptoms?
Parents of a child with cerebral palsy (CP) will want to do everything they can to help their child grow and develop successfully. While there is no cure for CP, there are a variety of treatments that can address a child’s symptoms, alleviate their discomfort, and allow them to move and function as well as possible. One potential treatment that may benefit children is taking CBD oil derived from marijuana or hemp.
CBD Versus Medical Marijuana
Many states allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes. However, patients will usually need to receive authorization from a doctor, and they must purchase medical marijuana from a licensed dispensary. CBD oil, on the other hand, is often available over the counter from a variety of sources, depending on state laws and regulations.
Is Leg Lengthening Surgery a Safe, Effective Cerebral Palsy Treatment?
Parents of children with cerebral palsy often face an overwhelming amount of information. Fully understanding how this condition has affected their child’s growth and development can be daunting, and making choices about the types of treatment a child should receive is often difficult. When surgical intervention is recommended to lengthen the muscles or tendons in the legs, parents should thoroughly discuss this option with medical providers to determine whether it will be an effective treatment for their child and whether it will cause any complications in the future.
Orthopedic Surgery Options and Considerations
In some cases, leg lengthening surgery may be used to correct a difference in length between a child’s legs, or it may help address spasticity or severe muscle contracture, improving a child’s gait and allowing them to walk independently. Surgery may also be recommended after a patient has undergone a selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR).
What Winter Boots Work Best for a Child With Leg Braces?
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) may require a wide variety of treatments and assistive devices. Leg braces are often used to improve mobility and correct deformities, but while these devices can provide a number of benefits, they also present challenges for parents and children alike. As the winter months approach, parents may be wondering about their options for winter boots that will provide children with protection from the elements while fitting over braces and allowing for easy, comfortable movement.
Footwear and Orthotics
Braces worn on the feet and legs are known as orthotics, and these devices can help address the issues experienced by those with CP, such as rigid muscles, spasticity, or low muscle tone. Orthotics can provide support and stability and improve a child’s ability to sit, stand, and walk. They can also be used to correct or prevent deformities in the muscles and bones, and they can help improve muscle strength and reduce missteps, hyperextensions, and accidents.
Is Trileptal Safe for Treating Seizures in a Child With Cerebral Palsy?
Complications during labor and delivery can lead to different birth injuries, such as cerebral palsy (CP). Children with cerebral palsy may experience a variety of symptoms that affect their movement, cognitive function, and many other areas of their lives. Epilepsy is a common condition that is related to cerebral palsy, and between one-third and one-half of people diagnosed with CP experience some form of seizures. While different medications are available to treat epilepsy, parents will want to make sure these drugs are safe for their children to use.
Treating Seizures With Anticonvulsant Medications
Children with cerebral palsy can experience multiple different types of seizures. These include tonic-clonic seizures that cause a child to suffer a complete loss of motor functions and experience convulsions in the muscles, as well as confusion that can last up to a few weeks after a seizure. Partial complex seizures can also occur, and while these do not involve convulsions, they may lead to a partial loss of consciousness and temporary impairment to walking or other motor functions.
What Can I Do if My Child With CP Has Trouble Sleeping?
Cerebral palsy (CP) refers to a neurological condition or disorder that affects an individual’s muscles and movement. This can manifest in several different ways, from spastic movements to hearing loss to the inability to walk without assistance. In many cases, it inhibits a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. CP is generally caused by abnormal brain development or damage to a developing brain in utero. This type of injury can be caused by a lack of oxygen during prolonged labor and other complications during childbirth. One of the many issues that CP sufferers face is trouble sleeping, and this is especially evident in children who have CP.
Tips for Bedtime
Parenting can be exhausting no matter what, but for parents who have a special needs child, it can take an even bigger toll. Daily routines are important for creating and maintaining healthy habits, including sleeping at naptime or bedtime. Seizures, muscle spasms, pain, breathing difficulties, or gastrointestinal issues can all inhibit sleeping patterns in younger people with CP.
What if My Child With Cerebral Palsy Does Not Want to Wear Leg Braces?
Childbirth can be a beautiful experience, but in some cases, a mother and child may suffer complications. Cerebral palsy (CP) refers to a group of developmental disorders caused by abnormal brain development or damage to a developing brain. This can occur if the baby does not get enough oxygen during delivery. Considered a chronic disability, CP impacts a person’s ability to control his or her muscles. In addition, depending on the severity, CP may affect vision, hearing, speech, and intellectual ability.
Affecting approximately 1 in 323 children in the United States, CP is the most common motor disability in childhood. For many children with CP, wearing specially fitted braces on their feet and legs can enhance their quality of life by allowing them to stand and walk. However, it can be difficult to adjust to wearing these devices on a daily basis.
Are the Rates of Child Developmental Disabilities Rising in the U.S.?
All parents are concerned about issues that may affect their children’s health, and one recent study highlights some troubling trends regarding developmental disabilities. Scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) found that the rates of these types of disabilities among children increased between 2009 and 2017. Parents will not only want to be aware of the prevalence of these types of health concerns, but they should understand whether birth injuries may have led to disabilities that impact their children’s well-being.
Birth Injuries and Developmental Disabilities
During this study, researchers looked at parent-reported data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to determine the percentage of children between the ages of 3 and 17 diagnosed with developmental disabilities. During the period of 2009-2011, this percentage was 16.2 percent, but the percentage increased to 17.8 percent in the period of 2015-2017. Additionally, the study found that boys were more likely than girls to be diagnosed with a developmental disability, and disabilities were more likely to affect children in rural areas and those with public health insurance than children in urban areas and those with private insurance.
Understanding Common Causes of Birth Injuries: Shoulder Dystocia
Despite tireless and dedicated efforts by medical professionals to prevent them, injuries can and do occur during childbirth. Unfortunately, it is often the newborn child who suffers the most serious injuries. One of the leading causes of birth injuries is shoulder dystocia. While the term “dystocia” sounds like it could be an injury itself, it actually refers to a slow or complicated delivery in which the baby is at risk for serious physical injury.
What Is Shoulder Dystocia?
During a vaginal delivery, the baby must pass through the mother’s pelvis on its way through the birth canal. In some cases, one or both of the baby’s shoulders gets stuck against the mother’s pelvis, preventing the baby from being able to move. This condition is known as “shoulder dystocia.” Shoulder dystocia can create a dangerous situation, but in most cases, the situation can be resolved safely for both the mother and the baby.
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