Cerebral Palsy
The term cerebral palsy refers to a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move and to maintain balance and posture which generally appear in the first few years of life. It is usually caused by brain damage that occurs before, during, or sometimes after birth, and is marked by lack of muscle control and movement. Often accompanied by poor coordination, it sometimes involves speech and learning difficulties. The diagnosis of cerebral palsy is often made immediately after birth, but it can also be made later in childhood. Although the cause of cerebral palsy is not known for certain, there is information that connects it to both the health history of the mother and child, and accidents causing brain damage.