Karl
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What is CP? - 2007/03/19 22:59
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is not a disease or an illness. It is the description of a physical impairment that affects movement. The movement problems vary from barely noticeable to extremely severe. No two people with cp are the same; it is as individual as people themselves.
"Cerebral palsy" includes a variety of conditions. The three main types correspond to injuries to different parts of the brain:
People with spastic cp find that some muscles become very stiff and weak, especially under effort. This can affect their control of movement.
People with athetoid cp have some loss of control of their posture, and they tend to make unwanted movements.
People with ataxic cp usually have problems with balance. They may also have shaky hand movements and irregular speech.
I think I have all three of them, hey am I lucky!
The main effect of cp is difficulty in movement. Many people with cp are hardly affected, others have problems walking, feeding, talking or using their hands. Some people are unable to sit up without support and need constant enabling. People with cp often have difficulty controlling their movement and facial expressions.
This does not necessarily mean that their mental abilities are in any way impaired. Some are of higher than average intelligence, other people with cp have moderate or severe learning difficulties. Most, like most people without cp, are of average intelligence.
No cure, but we do know that correct treatment from an early age can ease the effects of cp. Occasionally children who appear to have cp lose the signs as they get older. Most importantly, having a disability does not mean that someone cannot lead a full and independent life.
I think the best treatment is a few pints of beers as after a few pints I stop shaking and my speech improves. Would it be great if I could get free beer from the NHS. 
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