Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the developing brain, either in utero or during early childhood development. It can have many associated symptoms such as visual deficits, behavioural problems, sensory processing difficulties, cognitive impairment, speech and swallowing difficulties, amongst others. Cerebral palsy is classified into various sub-types depending on the presenting symptoms and where the brain damage occurred.

These include:

  • Dystonic
  •  Spastic
  • Ataxic
  • Choreoathetoid
  • Mixed

Cerebral palsy is further classified according to the distribution of the symptoms:

  • Hemiplegia (one side of the body)
  • Diplegia (legs only)
  • Global (the whole body)

Occupational therapists can assist with maximising your child’s quality of life, recommending the necessary equipment and positioning aids for the home environment and promoting physical, cognitive and behavioural development.

Apart from cerebral palsy, we also treat children with hydrocephalus, microcephaly, spina bifida and neuro-oncology conditions.

To find out more about how we can assist your child with a neurological condition, click here

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