GTN301 Nutrition Community & Dietetics Services Practicum By Liew Qing (112089, Dietetics)

A set of neurological conditions that cause physical disability in human development Affects the brain and nervous system Cerebral Palsy Affected brain area Complete or partial muscle paralysis

The most common disability in childhood Population-based studies from around the world report prevalence estimates of CP ranging from 1.5 to more than 4 per 1,000 live births or children of a defined age range. About 1 in 323 children has been identified with CP according to estimates from CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. CP was more common among boys than among girls. Most (77.4%) of the children identified with CP had spastic CP. Over half (58.2%) of the children identified with CP could walk independently.

Spastic Cerebral Palsy  Spastic hemiplegia  Spastic diplegia  Spastic quadriplegia Hypotonic Cerebral Palsy Ataxic Cerebral Palsy Athetoid Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy

Causes Prematurity Infections during pregnancy Insufficient oxygen reaching fetus Asphyxia during labour and delivery Severe jaundice Blood clotting disorders

Babies Low muscle tone Unable to hold up its own head while lying on their stomach or in a supported sitting position Muscle spasms or feeling stiff Poor muscle control, reflexes and posture Delayed development Feeding or swallowing difficulties Preference to use one side of their body Toddlers & Children Not walking by months Not speaking simple sentences by 24 months

 Muscles that are very tight and do not stretch. They may tighten up even more over time.  Abnormal walk (gait): arms tucked in toward the sides, knees crossed or touching, legs make "scissors" movements, walk on the toes  Joints are tight and do not open up all the way (called joint contracture)  Muscle weakness or loss of movement in a group of muscles (paralysis)  The symptoms may affect one arm or leg, one side of the body, both legs, or both arms and legs Symptoms of spastic cerebral palsy  Abnormal movements (twisting, jerking, or writhing) of the hands, feet, arms, or legs while awake, which gets worse during periods of stress  Tremors  Unsteady gait  Loss of coordination  Floppy muscles, especially at rest, and joints that move around too much Other symptoms

Foster your child's independence o Encourage any effort of independence Be an advocate for your child o Speak out on child’s behalf Find support o It can make big difference to cope with CP and its effects

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