Gray Matter Grows in Brains of Children with Cerebral Palsy Following Therapy, Study Finds

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — What’s a little gray matter between researchers?
A lot, it seems, as University of Alabama at Birmingham scientists become the first to show that a certain type of rehabilitation can remodel the brains of children by adding gray matter.
The findings are published today in the journal Pediatrics.

The study focused on 10 children who were given Constraint-Induced Movement (CI) therapy over a course of three weeks. One MRI was taken three weeks before the therapy; one right before therapy started; and the last one after it was over, said Chelsey Sterling, a graduate student in medical psychology and first author of the study.

“Following therapy we saw increases in the kids’ gray matter in the sensorimotor cortices  and in the hippocampus,”  Sterling said. “We don’t know exactly the cause, but it is correlated with improvements in motor skills.”

Gray matter is part of the central nervous system and is made up of neurons, glial cells and dendrites
One of the study’s co-authors, Gitendra Uswatte, described gray matter as the brain’s computer chips, and the therapy adds circuits to those chips.

Constraint-Induced Movement therapy was pioneered by Edward Taub in stroke rehabilitation. Taub is a university professor in the UAB Department of Psychology and co-author of this study.
CI therapy involves constraining the good limb so that the subject is forced to use the impaired limb.
For this study, researchers focused on children who had hemiparetic cerebral palsy, or CP that primarily affects one side of the body, Taub said.

The children’s good arm was placed in a cast to induce the restraint.
But the restrain aspect is only one small part of CI therapy, Taub said.
Successful therapy also involves the continuation of work at home involving family members to help the child focus on daily living activities: brushing their teeth, combing their hair and putting on shoes.
It’s not always easy, Taub chuckled, remembering when one child was asked to do something.
The child responded: “I have CP. Hasn’t anyone told you!”

While the study found a correlation between the increased gray matter and improved motor skills, it’s too early to which one caused the other, researchers said.
“The brain change could cause the motor improvement or the motor improvement could cause the brain change,” Taub said.
Uswatte is preparing to embark upon a study which may get closer to answering that question.
In the pending study, researchers would combine CI therapy with the administration of Prozac, or fluoxetine.

The study, he hopes, “will go some way to showing there is a causal relationship.”
Unfortunately, Uswatte said, the $2 million grant for the study is on hold due to sequestration – that series of automatic budget cuts directly caused by Congress not agreeing on a budget.
“There’s lots of research that is ready to go that can help people and help patients that can’t be done because of the stalemate over the budget,” Uswatte said.

Was My Daughter’s Cerebral Palsy Preventable?

By Ellen Robertson

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Every parent of a child born with a brain injury asks themselves, “Was my child’s birth injury preventable?” Very few find the answer to that question. Why? Many times, they’re convinced by the physicians and other medical personnel involved in their child’s delivery that “these things happen.” How many parents actually take the steps to investigate their child’s birth in spite of assurances that their child’s birth injury was “unavoidable?”

Taking on Goliath

I remember having a conversation with a family member several months after our daughter was born. My daughter suffered a severe neurological injury at birth due to “complications of unknown origins.” During this conversation with my cousin, he suggested that I should have my daughter’s birth investigated. He also suggested that if investigators found that my daughter’s injuries were “preventable,” that I should sue for damages. I reminded him that he was suggesting I take on Goliath! I would not be suing a small, home town hospital. I would be suing one of the largest entities in the free world! I laughed at his suggestion and asked him if he knew any really, really good lawyers who would take such a case! I dismissed his suggestion and our conversation.

Making the Call

Fast forward almost 3 years. While watching television one afternoon, a commercial came on.  It was a malpractice law firm with an advertisement about cerebral palsy and birth injuries. I don’t know why, but I tuned in to that commercial, as voices from the past filtered through my mind. The conversation I had with the Attending Pediatrician the morning after my daughter’s birth was as clear in my mind at that moment as it had been that morning 3 years previous. The words “this was preventable” echoed through my mind. He had explained to me that, had the staff used a fetal heart monitor during my daughter’s delivery, they would’ve seen her distress and been able to physically stop the vaginal delivery and perform an emergency C-section, possibly preventing the severe birth injury she sustained.

As I copied down the 800 number, the doubts and inhibitions crept in. I remembered the conversation I had with my cousin and the disturbing reality of what I was contemplating started to set in. Did I really want to take on this fight? Would a lawyer even take our case? I didn’t know. I knew one thing though, we had nothing to lose! My daughter was severely brain injured and I wanted answers! It was already becoming evident, as early as 6 months of age, that my daughter’s brain injury was going to have a profound negative impact on her life. I wanted to know exactly what happened during those 40+ minutes that robbed my daughter of a normal life. I made that call.

Getting Answers

I had no knowledge of “statute of limitation” laws, but learned in my discussions with the lawyer that we were just 3 months away from the statute of limitations expiring. The resulting investigation by our lawyer provided the answers I needed. It was found that my daughter’s birth injury was the result of gross negligence on the part of the medical staff involved in her delivery. The negligence was such that our lawyer told us he was prepared to take our case to the Supreme Court if we had not won. As it turned out, we did win the case, and the ensuing settlement helped to provide a level of care and quality of life for our daughter that would not have been possible otherwise.

If your child was recently diagnosed with a neurological injury that you suspect occurred during their birth and you don’t have the answers you seek, MAKE THAT CALL. It may make the difference between you having to fight for services for your child their entire life, or being able to provide all the services and interventions they may need without government restraints or restrictions.

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Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis

Many parents of children diagnosed with cerebral palsy are given little explanation of the cause, severity or future implications of the disorder. Surprisingly, many children may not receive a cerebral palsy diagnosis until they are school age, even though there may have been circumstances at birth that indicated risk of cerebral palsy. Many pediatricians take a “wait and see” attitude when parents present issues of delayed development.

Most cerebral palsy conditions are caused by lesions on the brain. These lesions may be caused by:

• Injuries that occurred during pregnancy or birth (congenital cerebral palsy)
• Injuries sustained in the months or years following birth (acquired cerebral palsy)

While symptoms range from mild to severe, the condition does not get worse as your child gets older. Depending on the level of severity however, a child may be at risk for complications related to cerebral palsy such as developmental delays, failure to thrive, joint contractures, scoliosis or seizures.

Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis

Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Known as the most common form of cerebral palsy, spastic cerebral palsy causes tightness in the muscles. Patients have stiff and jerky movements and will often have difficulty letting go of something in their hand. Many children with spastic cerebral palsy rely on medications, therapies or surgical interventions to manage their spasticity and prevent secondary complications.

Athetoid Cerebral Palsy

Athetoid cerebral palsy (fluctuating tone) is a neurological disorder resulting in a variety of movement disorders that result in involuntary and uncontrolled movements. A child may be shaky and unsteady and may make frequent, abrupt movements. Due to the mixed muscle tone involved in athetoid cerebral palsy, a child may experience difficulty with fine motor skills and maintaining torso control.

Ataxic Cerebral Palsy

A less common form of cerebral palsy is ataxic cerebral palsy. Ataxic CP disturbs a child’s sense of balance and depth perception, resulting in jerky, uncoordinated movements. A child with ataxic cerebral palsy may exhibit mixed tone and experience challenges with controlled movements.

Healthcare Concerns

Depending on the level of severity, cerebral palsy may result in a variety of healthcare concerns including inadequate oral motor skills and compromised ability to consume adequate fluids and nutrients. Untreated, severe oral motor dysfunction can result in dehydration and failure to thrive. Other healthcare concerns may include childhood osteoporosis, movement disorders, gastro- esophageal reflux disease (GERD), contractures of the extremities, and scoliosis.

Neuromuscular Issues

These affect the nerves that control voluntary muscles. “Neuro” indicates the origin of the disorder is at a neurological (brain) level. Left untreated, neuromuscular issues can severely impact a child’s quality of life and future development.

Seizures

Not all children with cerebral palsy suffer from seizures, just as not all children who experience seizures have cerebral palsy. Seizures result from abnormal and excessive discharges of nerve impulses originating from certain brain cells. Some of this excessive activity reaches the skeletal muscle fibers and triggers the violent contractions typical of many seizures. Seizures differ depending on the portion of the brain involved. Seizures that occur in only one hemisphere or part of the brain are known as “focal seizures.” Seizures that occur in both hemispheres are referred to as “generalized seizures.”

Range of Motion Issues

Range of motion (ROM) is the measurement used to describe the degree of flexion (how far it can bend) and extension (how far it can stretch or extend) in a joint. ROM is usually measured by degrees. Many children, especially those with spastic cerebral palsy, experience limited range of motion. Children with hemiplegia may experience limited range of motion involving the extremities on one side of their body. Children with quadrapalegia may experience range of motion issues with all extremities including the trunk, putting them at risk for spinal scoliosis.

Early Intervention

Receiving a cerebral palsy diagnosis allows parents to move forward and begin to pursue treatment and therapy options for their child. Early intervention is key to providing children with cerebral palsy the highest quality of life possible. For information about managing your child’s cerebral palsy, visit our Cerebral Palsy Treatments and Therapies page.

Understanding and Treating Epilepsy

By John Lehman

Some children who suffer from cerebral palsy have a chance of developing epilepsy, a seizure disorder brought on by brain injuries or certain neurological disorders. In fact, children and adults with cerebral palsy have a significantly higher chance of developing epilepsy than those not suffering from the disorder. Although there is still much to learn about epilepsy even today, there have been many advances in diagnosing and treating the condition.

Definition

Epilepsy is usually identified after the victim has received more than two randomly occurring seizures. When a person suffers from a seizure, the brain receives an overload of electronic signals powerful enough to disrupt normal brain functionality. This typically results in unconsciousness, involuntary muscle movements or spasms, emotional outbursts and loss of memory, though it varies depending on the person and the severity of the seizure.

Diagnosis

If you are concerned about your child having seizures, or your child has experienced his or her first seizure, set up an appointment with your doctor immediately. When children with cerebral palsy are experiencing seizures, a doctor can perform an EEG exam to assess their condition. Using a recording device, your doctor will scan your child’s brainwaves for abnormalities. Once the scan is complete, the data will be sent to a neurologist for analysis.

Types of Seizures

For those suffering from cerebral palsy, seizures associated with epilepsy are often categorized into two distinct types. Symptomatic seizures are identified as such when there is a specific, identifiable cause such as a disease or abnormality in the brain. Cryptogenic seizures, on the other hand, have no directly identifiable cause. These seizures are also known as idiopathic seizures. In these cases, doctors tend to look into the patient’s family medical history to see if the seizures are genetic.

Treating Seizures and Epilepsy

Once a seizure has begun, there is no way to stop it. Instead, the best thing you can do to help is to ensure your child is safe and comfortable. Clear the environment of potential hazards that could physically harm your child, as their uncontrolled movements could lead to cuts and bruises. Provide them with a pillow or a blanket so they may rest comfortably once the episode has passed. Contrary to popular belief, never attempt to stick anything in your child’s mouth when they are suffering from a seizure, as this could lead to serious injury (including choking or damage to teeth).

A single seizure is indeed a cause for alarm, but it may not be indicative of a seizure disorder. Remember that a doctor will likely not diagnose the condition as epilepsy if this is your child’s first seizure. In the case of a second or even third seizure, your child’s doctor will consider different forms of treatment, such as antiepileptic medications. If these do not prove effective, the doctor may recommend surgery.

There are other methods available to reduce the likelihood of a seizure occurring, including maintaining a healthy diet, keeping a balanced sleep schedule and exercising regularly. Your child’s doctor should be able to advise on which treatment is the best fit for your child’s condition.

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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Does it Work for Children with Cerebral Palsy?

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Does it Work?

By John Lehman
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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is commonly used to treat scuba divers with the bends, but recently, the therapy has been used to treat certain types of cerebral palsy, as well. Opinions vary as to whether or not HBOT is an effective treatment for children with cerebral palsy. Some research has shown improvements in motor, verbal and visual skills. However, others feel there isn’t enough conclusive data to recommend it to people with cerebral palsy. We’ll review both sides of the argument to help you decide if HBOT is the right treatment for your child.

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

When using HBOT, the patient enters a specialized room or a glass chamber designed for manipulating air pressure. The procedure is painless and patients can wear comfortable clothes, listen to the radio, read or watch television while inside the room. The average session lasts roughly an hour, including decompression once the session has finished.
Once the patient is inside, the room is sealed and the air pressure within is raised to a point where the patient is breathing 100 percent oxygen. In comparison, the air you are breathing right now contains approximately 20 percent oxygen. Increasing the air pressure in this way allows for the lungs to take in three times as much oxygen as they normally would. With more oxygen intake within the body, damaged or disabled cells can be regenerated and potentially given a second chance to become functional again.

Are There Any Risks?

As with any medical procedure, risks do exist when using HBOT. Patients undergoing HBOT may experience barotrauma, a form of ear damage related to changes in pressure. The medical practitioner on site should be able to advise you on how to reduce health issues related to compression and decompression, which should prevent this from occurring. Other issues associated with HBOT include oxygen toxicity, headaches or fatigue. Thankfully, these risks are not very common.

Does it Really Work?

HBOT is a controversial treatment for those with cerebral palsy. Within the last decade, many studies have been conducted and results have varied. In 1999, a study was published by researchers at McGill University to test the effectiveness of HBOT in children with cerebral palsy. The study took 25 children with cerebral palsy, who each underwent 20 sessions of HBOT over a month-long period. Follow-up tests concluded that 67 percent of the children showed improvement in movement and a reduction in muscle spasticity.
However, a study from Canada in the late 1980’s was met with skepticism. The study gathered 473 children afflicted with spastic cerebral palsy and administered 20 one-hour sessions of the therapy to 230 children within the group. Upon reevaluation after six months, roughly 75% of the treated children had improved balance and a lowered frequency of convulsions.
The controversy stems from the remaining 243 children who were grouped into a placebo study. Unlike standard placebo studies, these 243 children were treated with a reduced version of HBOT, using 1.3 atmospheres of pressure as opposed to the 1.7 atmospheres of pressure used for the original 230. This has led some researchers to claim that the study did not use a true placebo. An article written by Pierre Marois provides further details regarding this controversy.
Even today, research is ongoing in regards to the effectiveness of HBOT for cerebral palsy. While more studies are published demonstrating improvement in the quality of life for those treated, others point out that the treatment does not cure cerebral palsy and that the effects of HBOT are not permanent. HBOT can also be a costly procedure and, therefore, may not be available for all families whose children have cerebral palsy. In any case, it’s best to speak to your child’s doctor about HBOT to see if the treatment is worth trying for your child.

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Pediatric Stroke & Cerebral Palsy

Most people think strokes affect only adults, but they can also occur in children, even before birth. In fact, pediatric stroke is one of the leading causes of death in children. Children who have suffered from a pediatric stroke also have a high chance of developing cerebral palsy. Learn more about pediatric stroke in our latest blog.

http://www.cpfamilynetwork.org/blogs/pediatric-stroke-and-cerebral-palsy

Student’s Work May Help Diagnose Cerebral Palsy Earlier

Do you wish hospitals were able to diagnosis cerebral palsy earlier? Can you imagine being able to start treatment within days rather than months or years? A student at Virginia Tech is working on being able to do just that.

http://www.cpfamilynetwork.org/in-the-news/students-work-may-help-diagnose-cerebral-palsy-earlier

Overcoming All Obstacles: Amanda Henderson Doesn’t Let CP Stop Her

Amanda Henderson’s life hasn’t been easy. But it’s the hardships that have made her stronger.
Henderson was born an orphan with cerebral palsy in Moscow, Russia, in 1997. When her parents Dee and Ken Henderson adopted her, at the age of 22 months, she couldn’t walk or talk. She’s undergone two major reconstructive surgeries, numerous treatments and has endured physical therapy nearly every day since the age of 2. Yet, despite the struggles, Amanda Henderson has flourished.


On the field, she’s a leader for the South Washington County Thunderbolts softball and soccer teams. Off the field, she’s an “A” student, an advocate for valuable programs and all-around sweet girl.
“She is resilient, tenacious and passionate,” Thunderbolts head coach John Culbertson said. “That goes for her schoolwork, Special Olympics, the Thunderbolts, her friends, you name it. I think she wants to prove she can overcome. She definitely knows what she wants and will work her butt off to get it.”

Her list of accomplishments isn’t a short one.
A junior at East Ridge High School, Amanda is currently a co-captain of the South Washington County Thunderbolts adapted soccer team. She’s also been a captain of the Thundberbolts softball team, where she’s a two-time All-Conference player and has earned team MVP and All-State Tournament honors.

Last winter, she not only won a gold and two silvers in the Special Olympics as a swimmer, she also volunteers for the organization on the Youth Activation Committee and helped raise $1,000 for the program by organizing a Polar Bear Plunge fundraiser. She also advocates for Spread the Word to Stop the Word – a national campaign that encourages people to pledge to stop using the word “retard.”

She has 10 varsity letters, was a National Honor Society member as a freshman and is an East Ridge Ambassador. Amanda is not only enrolled in entirely regular-curriculum courses at East Ridge, she also takes Advanced Placement classes and holds a 3.84 grade point average.
In two years she hopes to go to college in order to study Graphic Communication. She also currently has her driver’s permit and will soon obtain her license to drive.
However, what stands out even more than the accolades and accomplishments, is Amanda Henderson’s bright spirit and happy demeanor. She has a peaceful energy and her positivity is contagious.
“She’s just very friendly,” Thunderbolts assistant coach Lindsay Bolin said. “All the kids can go up to her and talk about anything. She’s very open. Even when she is having a bad day, she never shows it. She is always smiling.”

Cerebral palsy (CP) causes physical disability in development, mainly in the realm of body movement. Other conditions can include seizures, epilepsy, speech and language or other communication disorders, along with eating problems, sensory impairments, mental retardation and learning and behavioral disorders, among other issues.

Since birth, Amanda has been effected on her right side with CP. It’s believed when she was born, blood vessels burst effecting her development – some cognitive, but mostly physical.
“When we got to the orphanage in Russia, the doctor asked us if we knew about her legs,” Dee Henderson said. “That was the first we had heard of it. We knew that she would need glasses. That wasn’t a big issue. But, the doctor said she probably had something like Cerebral palsy.”
Though shocked to learn of her disability, Dee and Ken Henderson didn’t waver and brought baby Amanda back to Minnesota, where she’s lived ever since.
“Even before we had a chance to meet Amanda, we fell in love with her when we saw her on a videotape,” Dee Henderson said. “I knew from the moment I saw her – her eyes and her smile – she was the only child I wanted to adopt.”

Learning to function physically has been a daily struggle for the Amanda. Throughout her life, amid the numerous surgeries, casts and procedures, the Hendersons literally had to teach Amanda how to crawl and walk and train her to be ambidextrous with both her feet and her hands.
“For the most part, with a lot of physical therapy and macaroni and cheese and French fries, she’s a happy, healthy young lady,” Dee Henderson said. “Most people don’t even know she has Cerebral palsy.”

Though she didn’t want to try it at first, Amanda has played softball for the Thunderbolts since seventh grade and soccer since eighth grade.
“I think it helps me stay in shape and not be a couch potato,” Amanda said. “It helps me with my Cerebral palsy, because it keeps me practicing with my right leg. I’ve seen improvement with myself from last year. I’m actually even using my right leg more than my left now.”
This fall, Amanda’s teammates elected her as one of two co-captains of the Thunderbolts soccer team. She said she wasn’t expecting it “at all.”
“The other players sometimes come to me for advice,” Amanda said. “Since I am one of the better players, I guess, I know what to do and can help them to improve. That gives me a sense of accomplishment that I can actually help out.”

Amanda said she likes both softball and soccer for different reasons. She said softball is more mental and soccer is more physical.
“I think the most important thing about adapted sports is that it’s given her the confidence to believe that she can compete in sports, that she can be a leader and she can participate in something she may not have thought she could,” Dee Henderson said. “So often these kids have struggles in life that not everyone else has. To see the joy this brings them, when they wouldn’t necessarily have that is just wonderful.”

The Minnesota Adapted Athletics Association first formed in 1984. Its mission is to “provide youth with disabilities the same opportunity as other students to enjoy the benefits of a quality high school sports program.” In 1992 the MAAA was accepted into the Minnesota State High School League. Minnesota is the only state in the country with a high school sports league for kids with disabilities.
“The state of Minnesota deserves a lot of credit, because a lot of states don’t have these kinds of programs,” Ken Henderson said. “For a lot of these kids, it’s not all about winning, it’s about competing. They like to win, don’t get me wrong, but those kids are having fun win or lose. Amanda enjoys being successful at it and being with these kids. There’s a lot of camaraderie between these kids. There’s a community and a lot of support.”

Culbertson said he witnessed a progression in Amanda before last year.
“When she took over the pitching job in softball, we kind of saw a blossoming and a growth in terms of physical ability, confidence and the other kids looking up to her,” he said. “She’s one of those kids you love to coach, because she will look you in the eye, listen to you and go out and do it.
“I don’t have kids, but if I did, I’d love to have a kid like that.”

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Cerebral Palsy: Developmental Milestones Birth to 12 Months

By Lee Vander LoopCP Family Network Editor
Many children with cerebral palsy are diagnosed shortly after birth. Others, however, may go months or even years with no diagnosis. Without a diagnosis, valuable early therapies and treatments are delayed.
How is a parent struggling with the question “is my child developing normally?” supposed to tell? If you are concerned, you should not hesitate to talk to your doctor. Trust your hunches. According to research, parental concerns detect 70% – 80% of all disabilities in children. So if your gut is telling you something is not right, chances are, it’s not.
Meanwhile, there are guidelines known as “developmental milestones” to help parents determine whether or not their child is keeping up with his or her peers. These milestones are a set of functional skills or age-specific tasks that most children can do at a certain age range. For children who have suffered a brain injury at birth, however, these guidelines often don’t apply. Depending on the severity and location of the brain injury, some children experiencing developmental delays may be able to achieve milestones only through a variety of therapy and interventions. Others with severe brain injuries may never achieve some developmental milestones.

Signs of Cerebral Palsy in Infants Up to 12 Months

The signs of cerebral palsy vary greatly because there are many different types and levels of disability, but an early indication is a delay in controlling movement of the head or arms and legs. This list of cerebral palsy symptoms, divided by age range, is not comprehensive but serves as a good starting point to determine if your child may have developmental delays. If you see any of these signs, call your child’s doctor or nurse.

• 2 months and older:
  • Have difficulty controlling his head when picked up
  • Have stiff or shaky arms or legs
  • Have stiff legs that cross or “scissor” when picked up
  • Have oral motor difficulties and problems sucking and feeding
• 6 months and older:
  • Continue to exhibit poor head control when picked up
  • May reach with only one hand while keeping the other in a fist
  • Have problems eating and drinking
  • May not roll over without assistance
  • May not be able to push up with their hands when laying on their stomach
• 10 months and older:
  • Crawl by pushing off with one hand and leg while dragging the opposite hand and leg
  • Not be able to sit by himself or herself
• 12 months and older:
  • Not yet crawl or attempt to pull themselves up
  • Not be able to stand with support

Basic Developmental Skills

Cerebral palsy is caused by a problem in the brain that affects a child’s ability to control his or her muscles. Problems in different parts of the brain cause problems in different parts of the body. There are many possible causes of problems, such as genetic conditions, problems with the blood supply to the brain before birth, infections, bleeding in the brain, lack of oxygen, severe jaundice, and head injury. A child who lacks basic motor skills will have difficulty reaching subsequent milestones without help.
The Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders Outlines the six basic developmental skills which lay the foundation for all learning and development. Although all children develop at their own rate, growth can be defined in the following areas:

• Gross Motor – Gross motor enables your baby to achieve major milestones such as head control, sitting, crawling, maybe even starting to walk. Children exhibiting a delay in gross motor skills need to be evaluated as early as possible so they can start getting physical therapy to help them strengthen their muscles.
• Fine Motor – These skills allow a child to hold a spoon, or pick up a piece of cereal between thumb and finger. Children exhibiting delays in these skills will have difficulty holding a spoon, manipulating small objects or grasping items between their thumb and fingers.
• Sensory – Sensory skills include seeing, hearing, tasting, touching and smelling.
  A child with a brain injury may have trouble processing information from these senses, a condition known as Sensory Processing Disorder. Normally diagnosed by developmental pediatricians, pediatric neurologists and child psychologists, children experiencing difficulties with sensory processing may exhibit either a “hyper” (over) or “hypo” (under) sensitivity to stimulation of the senses.
An infant with hypersensitivity may:

• Dislike being touched or dressed
• Seem intolerant of normal lighting in a room
• Startle easily at small sounds
An infant with hyposensitivity, may:

• Seem restless and seek stimulation
• Not startle or respond to loud noises
• Language – A child with cerebral palsy may lack the muscle strength in the mouth and tongue to control sounds or may have trouble hearing or processing sound, all of which will delay language. An infant developing normally from birth to 5 months will react to loud sounds, turn her head toward a sound source, watch your face when you speak, make pleasure and displeasure sounds (laugh, giggle, cry, or fuss), and make noise when talked to. Other milestones are listed by the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders.
• Social and Emotional– Social and emotional milestones are often harder to pinpoint than signs of physical development. A child from birth to 12 months who has trouble processing sensory input or who has poor control of movement because of a brain injury may be delayed in:
  
  • Crying to express distress or to attract attention
  • Fixating on faces
  • Smiling purposefully at certain people (mom, for example)
  • Cooing or laughing to attract attention
  • Playing “peek-a-book” or other game
  • Responding to their own names
  • Developing stranger anxiety
  A full list of both social and emotional milestones is listed here.

An Important Note about Developmental Milestones

Developmental milestones are only guidelines. No two babies are alike and no two develop the same, though most reach certain milestones at similar ages. Every child develops at their own rate. If your child was born prematurely, you will need to look at the guidelines a little differently. Also, all human development depends on environmental stimulation. A child deprived of a loving, nurturing and stimulating environment will experience developmental delays.
Your baby’s physician will evaluate your child’s development at each well-baby visit. Don’t be surprised if the pediatrician tells you not to worry, to be patient, to give your child more time to develop. Often, that’s what parents hear, especially in the early stages of investigating their child’s apparent delays. And it’s often true. Children develop at different rates; the pediatrician is well aware that many children show sudden bursts in development rather than slow, steady growth.
On the other hand, your pediatrician may recommend that a developmental screening be conducted. Its purpose is to see if your child is experiencing a developmental delay. The screening is a quick, general measure of your child’s skills and development. It’s not detailed enough to make a diagnosis, but it will show whether a child should be referred for a more in-depth developmental evaluation.

Resources

You can find a wonderful interactive Milestone Checklist at the CDC, provided by the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. It details specific developmental accomplishments and allows sharing of forms with other caregivers for their input. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers a Parenting website, healthychildren.org: Ages & Stages:
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/pages/Developmental-Milestones-1-Month.aspx
National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health, Medline Plus, Infant and Newborn development
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infantandnewborndevelopment.html
March of Dimes, Your Growing Baby
http://www.marchofdimes.com/baby/growing_indepth.html
Center for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, Child Development
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/child/

Dr. James Klausner: Conductive Education

September 12th, 2012
By Danielle Torrent
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James Klausner wasn’t looking for an additional career when he decided to start a rehabilitation program for kids with Cerebral Palsy. He already was quite busy with his day job as a lecturer at University of Florida and a physicist. It would be enough to nominate him for the Spirit of Gainesville award for his work as a professor. But he wanted to help kids in Gainesville, kids just like his son, who passed away at age six. He wanted to make them mobile, more independent, educated and accomplished. Hopefully, he would help them walk. In 2006 he started The Gainesville Conductive Education Academy. With a program modeled after the world famous Peto method, James Klausner took on a second day job without pay. He never turned a child away and as the head of The Jordan Klausner Foundation created in his son’s memory he tried with all his might to balance his need to help the local community with ever limiting funding to keep the facility running. Conductive Education is a method very little known in America, but quite popular worldwide, especially in the 1980′s. It doesn’t enjoy the financial support of insurance or the recognition of the US medical community. Conductive Education was developed in Hungary in the 1940′s. The theory behind was that people with neuromuscular disabilities can learn and improve through routines, movement and repetition. James wanted for the parents in Gainesville to have it as an option, to have the information and then make choices. He created an Academy that was free for most, affordable for the rest and he persuaded a Hungarian conductor, Kata to join his cause.

Dr. James Klausner

25 years ago I was just like the kids James Klausner has helped in Gainesville. I know what it did for me. I know what it’s like to fight with limitations of your own body only to raise above it and get better. Today I’m an attorney. Cerebral Palsy never goes away, of course I can see, but you can limit the way it affects you. That’s what James Klausner tried to do, against the odds, by bringing the approach that helped countless kids to Gainesville. To give them the gift of mobility. And also to start the discussion about the education and therapy choices in America and how we view Cerebral Palsy today. He didn’t make CE widespread, but he got his foot through the door.

This is our last chance to honor Dr Klausner’s efforts. After years of struggles the school has shut down this year. I know it was not an easy decision for him. It’s not that Cerebral Palsy is no longer a concern in Gainesville, but the logistics, the finances, the economic crisis we all live in, finally became too much for this one person, who tried to make a difference. He sacrificed a lot of personal time, energy and money. He thought of others first.

Last year I was nominated for the Spirit of Gainesville award, for my work with the school. But James is the true champion of Conductive Education. I’m just a success story. He has inspired me to help others like me. At the school little miracles happened daily. Yet, the media mostly ignored him. This is our chance to correct it. The school has closed but his efforts were not a failure. Not to his students, his other students, those who now walk, speak and move. Not to me, as I build by career around disability law issues and all the others he has touched. The school has closed, but the Foundation will continue, James assured me. For Jordan and for other kids in Gainesville.

Second Nomination

By day, James Klausner plays the role of what many people would call a rocket scientist. A professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of Florida, his research in thermal fluid sciences has landed him positions on panels for NASA and the National Science Foundation, and resulted in numerous awards and recognitions for his theoretical and experimental work on heat flow transfer. But the rest of the time, Klausner is focused on improving the lives of children with neuromuscular disabilities in Gainesville and surrounding areas.

In 1999, he established the Jordan Klausner Foundation in memory of his son, Jordan, who was afflicted with cerebral palsy. The foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit run primarily by volunteers that offers a range of services to the disabled community in North Central Florida, including educational opportunities for children, advocacy and legal services. It is mainly supported by parents and relies on grants, donations and McKay scholarships for funding. In 2006, Klausner opened the Gainesville Conductive Education Academy, a Florida charter school that combines rehabilitation and education to help children become more functional and independent. The key to Conductive Education is having children follow carefully designed scripts of exercises to make them stand, move and walk with the use of specially designed furniture that also serve as rehabilitation tools. The facility applies the therapy method developed in Hungary in the 1940s by Andras Peto. Over the decades, Peto’s Institute in Budapest has become a popular destination for Cerebral Palsy parents from all around the world, with many witnessing great progress in their children’s walking, talking and other functionality skills. The Gainesville Conductive Education Academy’s instructor, Katalin Szcoboda, received training for this method in Hungary. The school’s goal – unlike the outcome of many public schools, which results in disabled children becoming dependent on wheelchairs and classroom aides – is for children to become as independent and as functional as they can be. The Jordan Klausner Foundation’s motto states: “Helping special children help themselves.” The school operates year-round, providing otherwise unavailable educational options for North Central Florida’s population of children with disabilities and their families, with the ultimate goal of incorporating students into the public school system. Students have commuted from Orlando and as far north as Georgia to participate in the academy’s summer camp, as there are no other Conductive Education facilities available in the area.

Cerebral Palsy is an umbrella term for a number of neuro-motor disorders involving brain injury at birth or during pregnancy. An estimated two-to-three live births per thousand are diagnosed with the condition, with some studies suggesting raised rates in recent years. It affects children in all countries and all social groups. The condition mostly affects walking, control over limbs, balance and speech and in most cases, renders the body spastic. James Klauser has devoted an immeasurable amount of time and personal sacrifice to get the foundation and school off the ground, organizing fundraising events, applying for Federal grants and ensuring the students have a safe, welcoming facility to attend. He is committed to helping kids in the community and building a sustainable organization that will be able to help generations of families. For more information, please visit www.jordanklausnerfoundation.org.

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Treatment has Potential to Reverse Cerebral Palsy

August 21st, 2012
From Norbert Herzog and David NieselSign up for our weekly newsletter!

A child’s symptoms can start with a weak or shrill cry, which seems normal enough. But then other problems appear, such as not being able to swallow or suck properly and having an overly floppy or stiff body.

These are early signs of a group of disorders called cerebral palsy, which is the No. 1 cause of motor disability in American children and affects more than 11,000 kids every year.

Doctors treat the lifelong symptoms with physical therapy and drugs, but are unable to reverse the brain damage, which happens in the womb for most cerebral palsy children.

Now, a study using a nanoparticle has successfully repaired damaged brains in rabbits with cerebral palsy. A research team engineered a particle small enough to deliver anti-inflammatory drugs to overactive neurons in the brain that are killing healthy cells.

Children with cerebral palsy have varying types of brain damage because of genetic mutations, maternal infections that affect fetal brain development, lack of oxygen to the fetus or baby or traumatic brain injury.

In many of these cases, two types of immune cells in the brain become activated — microglia and astrocytes. They protect the brain during infection and inflammation but damage the brain when they go into overdrive, destroying healthy cells.

Controlling neuronal inflammation presents a challenge because most medications can’t get past the blood-brain barrier.

R. Kannan led a group from Johns Hopkins University and Wayne State University that found a solution using a nanoparticle called a dendrimer, which is 2,000 times smaller than a red blood cell.

Kannan’s team affixed a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties onto the snowflake-shaped particle.

When intravenously injected into newborn rabbits with an induced form of cerebral palsy, the drug-laced dendrimers made their way to the brain and were immediately swallowed by the overactive immune cells.

Within five days of treatment, the rabbits showed significant improvement, exhibiting motor skills similar to healthy rabbits. By comparison, rabbits treated with just the antioxidant, unattached to a dendrimer, showed minimal improvement even though they were given 10 times the amount.

An autopsy revealed the brains of rabbits treated with dendrimers had less scarring, less brain cell death and reduced inflammation.

They also had better preservation of myelin, a protective cover around nerves, which normally is stripped by cerebral palsy and other neurological diseases. This suggests the new treatment has the potential to reverse the disease.

Before human trials can begin, researchers must determine if the nanoparticle in this study is safe for humans, particularly children whose brains are developing.

There’s also the question of how long doctors have before cerebral palsy is irreversible in children. In most cases, cerebral palsy is diagnosed by the age of 2, but if newborns can be diagnosed and treated immediately, Kannan’s therapy might be invaluable to those young lives.

The study’s scientists already anticipate pairing the treatment with stem cell therapy to regenerate damaged nerve tissue in the brain.

Not only would this help newborns with cerebral palsy, but could also help people with other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis.

Professors Norbert Herzog and David Niesel are biomedical scientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Learn more at medicaldiscoverynews.com.

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Electrical Stimulation Restores Mobility to Young Boy with Cerebral Palsy

August 13th, 2012
From CBS DFW 

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11 year old Matthew Hurt isn’t just walking better these days.  The North Texas boy’s running, jumping and riding have improved as well, all thanks to a device the size of an iPod.

Shortly after a premature birth, doctors diagnosed Matthew with mild cerebral palsy.  He’s developed cognitively like any other child his age, but the cerebral palsy resulted in weakness on his right side.  That led to a condition known as “foot drop” which causes a person to drag the toe of the shoe on the ground or slap the foot on the floor.

This caused Matthew to have an unnatural gait, and made it difficult for him to walk without tripping and falling.  And as a result, that made it hard to keep up with his friends.

However, doctors recently fit Matthew with a medical device.  It’s called the WalkAide.  The device is worn around the calf, just below the knee, and uses electrical stimulation to combat foot drop and restore mobility to people like Matthew.

Since wearing the WalkAide, Matthew’s gait has improved significantly. He can walk faster and farther before getting tired. He’s also able to keep up better with his friends when he’s on the golf course playing his favorite sport.

The WalkAide can also be used in patients living with traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and some spinal cord injuries.

Watch the video of Matthew here.

View original article

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Documentary on One Family Who Cares for 2 Daughters with Cerebral Palsy

We’re pleased to share with you this short documentary that was filmed, edited and produced by Steve Tatzmann, the founder of StaleFish Production Company.

The House of Gort is the story of a family with two special needs daughters (Cerebral Palsy) following a medical accident that would forever change their family dynamic.

This piece is lovingly dedicated to Steve’s father, Manfred Tatzmann, who has been an advocate for those with special needs and their families his entire life.

http://vimeo.com/46597387

We hope that once you’ve watched the film, you will feel compelled to “Support the Gorts” by sharing with as many people as you can or taking the time to leave comments here on our blog.

If you feel inclined, you may reach out to ask questions directly to the hospital via Facebook or by e-mailing them.

If you need any additional legal or medical resources please visit our website:

http://www.cpfamilynetwork.org

 

Sensory Therapies for Children with Cerebral Palsy and other developmental delays

More avenues of hope for children with Cerebral Palsy and other developmental and behavioral disorders! This is a technical article and may have to be read twice to properly soak up all the information. The basics are that children with CP have major issues detecting and reacting to sensation. This can be as simple as knowing when to react when you put your hand on a hot stove. This research hopes to unlock areas of the brain that can be better trained and seasoned to sensation. Through this, the patient can begin to sense things correctly and in turn coordinate their motor functions appropriately.

For more information please read this article:

http://www.cpfamilynetwork.org/in-the-news/sensory-therapies-for-cerebral-palsy