Types of Cerebral Palsy are based on classifications
by movement and by the number of limbs affected. There are four
main types of Cerebral Palsy that are classified by movement:
· Ataxic Cerebral Palsy
· Athetoid Cerebral Palsy
· Spastic Cerebral Palsy
· Mixed Cerebral Palsy
Types of Cerebral Palsy are also identified by
the number of limbs affected: Diplegia, Hemiplegia, Monoplegia,
Triplegia, and Quadriplegia.
When describing a type of Cerebral Palsy, the
movement classification and limbs affected are combined to tell
which movement disorder is occurring along with what part of the
body the movement disorder affects.
If a child has Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy
for example, this type of Cerebral Palsy is characterized by muscles
that are stiff and tight with an increased resistance to being
stretched that affect all four limbs, however, the legs are more
affected than the arms.
The types of Cerebral Palsy that describe the affected number of
limbs include, Diplegia, Hemiplegia, Monoplegia, Triplegia, and
Quadriplegia. Diplegia affects the legs more than the arms. Hemiplegia
affects on side of the body in which the arms are more affected
than the legs. Monoplegia occurs when only one limb is affected
which is usually an arm. Triplegia affects three limbs and usually
affects both arms legs and an arm. Quadriplegia affects all four
limbs.
In a child with Ataxic Cerebral Palsy, damage
to the spinal cord and cerebellum causes problems with a child’s
ability to balance resulting in unsteady movements. Children and
individuals with Ataxic Cerebral Palsy will walk with a wide based
gait meaning they tend to walk with their feet placed very far
apart.
Uncontrolable motor skills become very noticeable
when a child with Cerebral Ataxic Palsy tries to reach for an object,
turns a page in a book, writes a sentence, or tries to use scissors.
When a child that has Ataxic Cerebral Palsy reaches
for an object, they will experience some difficultly in reaching
for that object. As they reach out, trembling occurs and gets worse
the closer the child gets to that object.
Athetoid Cerebral Palsy is commonly characterized
by muscles which go from loose to tense when muscle tone is either
too high or low. Athetoid Cerebral Palsy often affects the hands,
feet, arms, and legs and can occur mixed with other types of Cerebral
Palsy.
Muscles in the face are affected in dealing with
Athetoid Cerebral Palsy resulting in involuntary grimaces and tongue
thrusts which can lead to swallowing, drooling, and speech problems.
Problems with the coordination of the muscles involved that are
need for speech in a Athetoid Cerebral Palsy child is referred
to as dysarthia.
Athetoid Cerebral Palsy in children is caused
by severe trauma to the newborns Cerebellum or basil ganglia causing
children to have poor development in the face, arms and torso.
In an Athetoid Cerebral Palsy child or adult,
the area of the brain that has been damaged is responsible for
processing signals that enable smooth, coordinated movements as
well as maintaining correct body posture.
Spastic Cerebral Palsy is known as the most common
form or type of Cerebral Palsy and is characterized by muscles
that are stiff and tight with an increased resistance to being
stretched.
A child with Spastic Cerebral Palsy has muscle
groups that are tight limiting the amount and range of movements
they can do. For example, children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy
have difficulty in moving from one position to another in addition
to have a hard time holding on to and letting go of objects.
When a child has Spastic Cerebral Palsy that affects
mainly the legs and not so much the hands, it is referred to as
Spastic Diplegia. Since the brain injury causing the leg problems,
affects the lower part of the body, hand–eye coordination
is weakened and thus difficult.
Children with Mixed Cerebral Palsy have symptoms
of more than one of the other types of Cerebral Palsy such as Athetiod
Cerebral Palsy, Ataxic Cerebral Palsy, or Spastic Cerebral Palsy.
Around 10 percent of children with Cerebral Palsy have Mixed Cerebral
Palsy.
Mixed Cerebral Palsy children most commonly have
Spastic Cerebral Palsy mixed with Athetoid Cerebral Palsy resulting
the tight muscle tones characterized by Spastic Cerebral Palsy
children and the involuntary movements or reflexes characterized
by Athetoid Cerebral Palsy children.
In dealing with Cerebral
Palsy, it is important to understand the available Cerebral
Palsy Treatments that go along with a Cerebral
Palsy Diagnosis after Cerebral
Palsy has been detected. Through extensive, technology based Cerebral
Palsy Research, there is hope for possible future Cerebral
Palsy Prevention.
