Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is a neurological disorder that occurs during or shortly after birth, it results in movement difficulties and often has secondary complications regarding cognition and perception. Although currently there is no cure for Cerebral Palsy, an occupational therapist can provide effective treatment and management of the symptoms that are directly affecting activity performance.

Does your child have any of the following difficulties?

Cerebral Palsy is an extremely unique condition and symptoms vary greatly from child to child, however, common symptoms can be determined, these are:

• Un-coordinated movements
• Difficulty planning and executing muscle movements
• Spasms
• High or low muscle tone
• Poor fine motor skills
• Difficulty running, catching, or throwing
• Poor balance
• Difficulty getting dressed
• Reduced gait
• Difficulty concentrating and/or processing information

Call (+255) 754-201-030 | Email help@gabriellacentre.or.tz

How can these difficulties impact function?

Occupational therapists aim to improve activity participation, increase health and wellbeing, and enable children to reach their goals, they will work with you and your child in addressing issues that impact across all areas of their life, be it at home, in school, or socially, some examples of how Cerebral Palsy impacts upon school life are as follows:

Home:

• Clumsy
• Bumping into walls
• Falling often
• Difficulty eating
• Difficulty dressing
• Possible toileting difficulty
• Poor concentration

School:

• Poor handwriting
• Difficulty getting changed for P.E in time
• Running/playing outside results in falls
• Difficulty in P.E

Social/behavioral:

• Children can begin to notice their differences
• Isolated, only working with adults
• Difficulty building friendships