The HEALTH : February 2019 | Page 20

20 20 The Health | february, 2019 junior NOTICE IT EARLY: Early detection for cerebral palsy is important to ensure the children has a brighter future and can live up to their full potential. Our strong kids Children living with cerebral palsy are unique, and shouldn’t be defined by their condition T here are various life-long health conditions affecting our children, and it debilitates and categorises them as a dis- abled person. Those who have physical and mental disabilities are prone to be treated differently, which can be unfair to them. In 2010, 445,006 children with disabilities have been recorded in Malaysia, and around 1.6 percent out of the 28.3 million Malaysians are living with some form of disability. According to Norshafiqah Mat Rabi, a physiotherapy from Flex Physiotherapy Centre, cerebral palsy is one of those disabilities currently affecting our children and youth in Malaysia. “In the Accardo research (2008), it is stated that cerebral palsy is the biggest disability to affect chil- dren,” says Norshafiqah. The cause for cerebral palsy Cerebral palsy (pronounced seh-ree-brel pawl-zee) is a disability where there were damage to the brain during the early life of the individual, which leads to loss of body coordination and muscle control. “The damage on the brain usually occurs when the individual is still inside the mother’s womb, during birth, or in the early years of life,” she tells. Moreover, accidents, abuse, negligence, infection and injuries are the main factors of one to have cerebral palsy. Physiotherapist Wan Muhamad Zahid Wan Zulkifli, also from Flex Flex Physiotherapy Centre also lent his take on the matter. “Cerebral palsy occurs in one or two in every 2000 babies born, and it is 10 times more prevalent among babies born immaturely or underweight.” “The damage occurred on the brain will be life-long, but it will not worsen over any period of time,” he adds. This is what was meant by the statement in which cerebral palsy is a life-long condition, our kids who have it will live with it all their lives. On a grimmer note, 87 percent of kids with the condition continue to live their life until adulthood, with an average lifespan of 30 years old. The difference in disability The level of disability one with cerebral palsy would Early signs of cerebral palsy in babies to look out for • Limbs that are too weak (low muscle tension) or too tensed (high muscle tension). • Doesn’t achieve normal growth development on time, such as rolling, lifting the head, sitting, crawling, standing, walking, holding onto objects, and smiling, among others. • Other symptoms occurring such as epileptic seizures, difficulty in breathing, poor sight, poor hearing, and speech impediment. • Difficulty in sucking and swallowing beverages. • Abnormal crying, either too weak or too loud. Norshafiqah Mat Rabi, Physiotherapist at Flex Physiotherapy Centre, Wakaf Che Yeh Wan Muhammad Zahid Wan Zulkifli, Physiotherapist at Flex Physiotherapy Centre, Wakaf Che Yeh have varies from individual to another. “The damage to the brain varies in seriousness, and therefore affects their level of disabilities differently as well. It can be very mild to very severe, depending on the brain damage severity,” says Wan. Usually for children living with mild cerebral palsy, they are able to perform normal daily activities with- out needing much assistance. On the other hand, ones with severe condition will need help for the simplest of things, such as eating, drinking, and moving from place to place. Identifying and managing “Normally, babies who have cerebral palsy will not show signs of it at birth, instead will start showing symptoms of it within the first 18 months to 3 years of their lives. However, severe form of the condition can be detected as early as the first 3 months since birth,” Wan explains. As for the condition itself, is it treatable? To this, Norshafiqah explains; “There is no actual treatment for cerebral palsy. However, children can manage and improve on their coordination and muscle control through physio- therapy, work therapy, speech therapy, and medication to manage muscle tension and epilepsy. — The Health Normally, babies who have cerebral palsy will not show signs of it at birth, instead will start showing symptoms of it within the first 18 months to 3 years of their lives. However, severe form of the condition can be detected as early as the first 3 months since birth.” – Wan Muhammad Zahid