International Journal of Physical and Social Sciences
Year : 2013, Volume : 3, Issue : 10
First page : ( 555) Last page : ( 568)
Online ISSN : 2249-5894.

Cerebral palsy: A case study

Garg Neha

Department of Linguistics, Banaras Hindu University, India

Online published on 21 November, 2013.

Abstract

The potential of variations of problems within a given individuals who may be diagnosed as having Cerebral Palsy has created difficulty historically for members of all professions that have dealt with the population. Indeed, the variety of etiologies that may result in Cerebral Palsy and the heterogeneity of disorders and disabilities that may be associated with the condition has led to serious question that the term Cerebral Palsy has clinical significance. A prime basis for success in dealing with diseases and/or disorders of humans has been the ability to identify their common elements. Whenever a homogeneous disease or disorder is identified and methods of treatment and prevention are found to be effective, the particular disease or disorder may then become subject to better understanding and, in most instances, to improved control, cure, or management. That is the prime purpose of diagnosed labels. Yet, over a century of study of the concept of cerebral palsy has shown that the label does not apply to a group with a homogeneous etiology or a common cluster of resulting disorders.

A number of definitions of cerebral palsy have attempted to encompass the heterogeneous characteristics of the individuals to whom the label has been applied. There is, however, far more general agreement about the common element of cerebral palsy among the clinical practitioners who become involved with those to whom the label is applied than is suggested by the numerous definitions in the literature. To those practitioners, the diagnosis of cerebral palsy means that the person has some form of dysfunction of the neuro-motor systems that has resulted from a non-progressive brain abnormality for which the onset was before, at, or shortly after the time of birth. That is also the most consistent connotation of the term throughout the historical and contemporary literature.

Top