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Article: Origins and Causes of Cerebral Palsy: Symptoms and Diagnosis.
- Article from:
- The Exceptional Parent
- Article date:
- April 1, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 EP Global Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Cerebral palsy is a generic name for a difficulty in coordinating muscle movement or maintaining a normal posture that is caused by a brain dysfunction. This excludes movement problems due to abnormalities of muscles, peripheral nerves, or the spinal cord. The brain abnormality that causes cerebral palsy is static in nature--that is, it will not continue to get worse. For example, if a child has a brain tumor that causes a motor disability of his or her left arm and leg, the youngster is not considered to have cerebral palsy because the tumor, as it grows, can cause further motor problems. If the tumor is successfully removed, but a residual muscle coordination difficulty ...