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CEREBRAL PALSY 1: INTRODUCTION

METHOD

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TIME

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KNOWLEDGE

Created by Global CHE Network and LifeWind International

CEREBRAL PALSY 1: INTRODUCTION

Date:10/09 / (1 HOUR)
OBJECTIVES: / After working through this lesson, participants will be able to:
Tell the story of a baby with cerebral palsy.
Explain that the brain controls movement of the body.
Discuss some causes of cerebral palsy.
Describe how cerebral palsy may affect different parts of the body.

OVERVIEW FOR TRAINERS:This is one of a series of lessons on specific disabilities

METHOD

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TIME

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KNOWLEDGE

Story:
Divide into small groups. Read A Parent’s Perspective. Discuss the story and report back. / 20”

----SHOWD questions----

S = What do you See?
H = What is Happening?
O = Does this happen in Our place?
W = Why does this happen?
D = What will we Do about it?
I. / A Parent’s Perspective / 10” / I. / A Parent’s Perspective
A. / Describe the pregnancy and birth. / A. / Describe the pregnancy and birth.
She was born nine weeks prematurely.
Her mother’s membranes broke early.
She needed to be resuscitated in the delivery room.
But she did well and had no breathing problems.
She was transferred out of the intensive care nursery and later returned home.
B. / What did her mother expect after she returned home? / B. / Expectations
She did not expect any more problems.
She thought she would “do” or “die”.
She did not expect any health problems.
C. / What did her parents notice about her? / C. / What did her parents notice about her?
She thrust her tongue out.
Her head control was poor.
She arched her back.
She clenched one fist.
Her legs were stiff and her feet scissored.
Her mother became worried about her.
D. / How did her parents learn she had cerebral palsy? / D. / Cerebral palsy
A doctor mentioned it at a medical appointment.
E. / How did the mother respond? What could the doctors have done differently? / E. / Response
The parents were unprepared for this.
They were devastated.
The doctors should have talked with them gradually, over time, about their concerns.
They should not have been so blunt.
F. / Do you know any children with cerebral palsy? / F. / Children with cerebral palsy
II. / The brain
Discuss in large group. / 10” / II. / The brain
A. / Show or draw the picture of the brain. What does your brain do? / A. / The brain
The brain controls the body.
It controls our ability to see, hear, touch, taste, and smell.
The brain controls our movements.
The brain controls what we do.
The brain controls our speech.
Each area of the brain controls a specific function.
The left side of the brain controls the right side of the body.
The right side of the brain controls the left side of the body.
B. / What does the brain need to work well? / B. / What does the brain need?
The brain needs a constant supply of blood.
The brain needs enough oxygen (air).
C. / What happens if the brain does not receive a constant blood supply or enough oxygen? / C. / What happens?
Without enough oxygen, the brain may be damaged.
Without a constant blood supply, the brain will not be able to work well.
III. / Cerebral palsy / 10” / III. / Cerebral palsy
A. / What is cerebral palsy? / A. / Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect how the brain controls movement.
Cerebral palsy occurs when there Is damage to the motor area of the brain. (The motor area is the part of the brain that control movement.)
This damage may occur during the pregnancy (before birth), or at the time of birth, or shortly after birth.
The baby loses the ability to control movements and balance.
B. / How can the movements of a baby or child be affected? As you answer, think of specific areas of the body. (Give an example, if necessary.) / B. / Symptoms of cerebral palsy
If the control of hand muscles is affected, the child may have difficulty with fine movements such as writing.
They child may have poor balance or have difficulty walking.
If the face muscles are involved, the child may have drooling.
If the tongue is involved, there may be a tongue thrust.
One arm, or both arms, or both legs may be weak.
Sometimes the limbs may be stiff or spastic.
Or the child may be limp and floppy.
Sometimes there are involuntary or uncontrolled movements.
C. / Give out the drawing, Types of Cerebral Palsy. What parts of the body may be affected? (Don’t worry about learning the names.) / C. / Types of cerebral palsy
Sometimes both legs and both arms are affected. This is called quadriplegia.
Sometimes the legs are affected more than the arms. This is called diplegia.
Sometimes one side of the body is affected. This is called hemiplegia.
Triplegia means that three limbs are affected, such as both arms and a leg.
Monoplegia means that one arm or one leg is affected.
IV. / Who is at risk? / 10” / IV. / Who is at risk?
A. / How common is cerebral palsy or “CP”? / A. / How common is cerebral palsy?
CP is common.
About 1 in every 400 children has cerebral palsy.
B. / What are some situations when the baby’s developing brain may be damaged? Who is at risk for cerebral palsy? / B. / At risk
Babies who are premature (born early)
Babies who are small at birth
Sometimes the pregnancy was complicated, with vaginal bleeding
Sometimes the mother had an infection such as rubella during the pregnancy.
Sometimes the labor and delivery is very difficult.
Sometimes the mother has poor nutrition.
Taking drugs or drinking alcohol during pregnancy can affect the baby.
Sometimes a young baby may have a serious infection, such as meningitis (an infection of the lining of the spinal cord)
Often we do not know the cause of cerebral palsy.
C. / Is cerebral palsy contagious? / C. / Contagious?
No, CP is not an infection. It does not spread between children.
D. / Is cerebral palsy hereditary? / D. / Hereditary?
No, cerebral palsy is not passed down from the parents.
Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the young brain.
E. / Can you cure cerebral palsy? / E. / Curable?
There is no cure for cerebral palsy.
But cerebral palsy does not get worse over time.
It is important to prevent cerebral palsy since there is no cure.
E. / Can you think of some ways to prevent cerebral palsy? / F. / Prevention
Get good care during the pregnancy.
This helps prevent babies from being premature or small for dates.
Women should be vaccinated against rubella (German measles).
Go to a doctor right away with serious infections like meningitis.

References:

Colledge, N. 2002. A Guide to Cerebral Palsy. OFCP. Available from:

Medline Plus/ NIH. 2004. X-Plain Cerebral Palsy. The Patient Education Institute, Inc.Available from:

NHS. Cerebral palsy. Available from:

ATTITUDE: / Cerebral palsy is a common disability.
SKILL: / Participants will be able to describe the cause and some signs of cerebral palsy.
EVALUATION: / Are the participants able to teach their neighbors about cerebral palsy?

MATERIALS:

/ -Newsprint, markers, masking tape
-A Parent’s Perspectivehandout
-The Brainillustration, with Types of Cerebral Palsy

This lesson is used in: Disabilities/ Specific Disabilities

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A PARENT’S PERSPECTIVE

Source of the story: Colledge, N. 2002. A Guide to Cerebral Palsy. OFCP. Available from:

Discussion Questions

  1. Describe the pregnancy, birth, and hospital care of the baby.
  2. What did her mother expect to happen when she returned home?
  3. What did her parents notice about her over time?
  4. How did her parents learn that she had cerebral palsy?
  5. How did her mother feel when she heard the diagnosis? What could the doctors have done differently?
  6. Do you know any children with cerebral palsy?

THE BRAIN

TYPES OF CEREBRAL PALSY

Source of illustrations: Colledge, N. 2002. A Guide to Cerebral Palsy. OFCP. Available from: