Cerebral Palsy

A diagnosis of cerebral palsy is difficult to make and is typically delayed until the child is 18 months old. Although the condition may be mild or severe or something in between, even general predictions about long-term prognosis seldom come before the child's second birthday. Such a "wait-and-see" process can be extraordinarily difficult for parents and families. Written by a team of experts associated with the Cerebral Palsy Program at the Alfred I. duPont Institute, this text addresses the complexities and uncertainties of cerebral palsy while providing information that anyone might ever need to know about the condition. It is a resource for parents, grandparents, caregivers and health professionals, as well as adolescents and adults with cerebral palsy. Part one of the book provides an overview of cerebral palsy, describing the specific patterns of involvement (hemiplegia, diplegia, quadriplegia), explaining the medical and psychosocial implications of these conditions, and showing parents how to be effective advocates for their child. Part two offers a wealth of practical advice about caregiving, from wheelchair maintenance to toothbrushing. Part three - an extensive, alphabetically arranged encyclopaedia - lists, defines and describes medical terms and diagnoses, medical and surgical procedures, and orthopaedic and other assistive devices. The authors also include lists of resources and recommended reading.