General Phone: (281) 298-1144
One in 345 children suffers from cerebral palsy as a result of brain damage before, during, or just after birth. For those affected, help is available in days, not months at THINK Neurology for Kids. If you suspect your child’s abnormal movement, reflexes, muscle tone, and posture is from cerebral palsy, call or make an appointment online today at one of their three locations in The Woodlands, Katy, Sugar Land, and Austin, Texas.
Cerebral palsy refers to a group of disorders that makes it difficult for a person to move and maintain balance and posture.
Cerebral palsy impedes your body's ability to coordinate movements, leading to issues with:
The doctors and healthcare team at THINK Neurology for Kids diagnose the three types of cerebral palsy.
Spastic cerebral palsy causes stiffness and makes movement difficult.
Dyskinetic or athetoid cerebral palsy causes uncontrolled movements.
Ataxic cerebral palsy causes balance and depth perception issues.
The doctors and healthcare team at THINK Neurology for Kids use brain scans and other tests to help reveal damage and abnormal development in the brain to diagnose cerebral palsy. These include:
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses radio waves and a magnetic field to produce a detailed image of your child’s brain and helps the doctors and healthcare team at THINK Neurology for Kids to identify lesions and abnormalities.
Cranial ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create preliminary images of your child’s brain.
Also referred to as an EEG, electroencephalogram uses a series of electrodes to record the electrical activity in your child’s brain. The doctors and healthcare team at THINK Neurology for Kids use EEG if your child has or they suspect has seizures. Seizures can be silent.
Blood, urine, and skin tests allow the doctors and healthcare team at THINK Neurology for Kids to screen your child for genetic and metabolic problems.
A diagnosis of cerebral palsy often results in further testing to help develop a treatment plan. These tests include:
After conducting these tests, the doctors and healthcare team at THINK Neurology for Kids develop a custom treatment plan.
No cure exists for cerebral palsy. Treatment improves the lives of those with the condition, especially when it is started as early as possible. Medical interventions for cerebral palsy include:
Medication lessens muscle tightness and helps improve functional abilities and treat pain. The most common types of medication for cerebral palsy include muscle and nerve injections and oral muscle relaxants.
Doctors and healthcare team at THINK Neurology for Kids recommend a variety of therapies for cerebral palsy, including:
Surgery may help lessen muscle tightness and correct bone abnormalities. Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) is a spinal surgery usually performed on children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP), which can improve mobility, reduce pain, and relieve lower limb spasticity.
THINK Neurology for Kids works with you to get your child diagnosed and treated for cerebral palsy as soon as possible. If you suspect cerebral palsy, call or make an appointment online today.
