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8 - Cerebral palsy across the lifespan

from Section II - Disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 May 2010

By
Seth Warschausky ,
Desiree White  and
Marie Van Tubbergen
Edited by
Jacobus Donders  and
Scott J. Hunter
Jacobus Donders
Affiliation:
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital
Scott J. Hunter
Affiliation:
University of Chicago
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Summary

Introduction

Definition

In one of the earlier definitions of cerebral palsy (CP), Bax described CP as “A disorder of movement and posture due to a defect or lesion of the immature brain” [1]. Over the decades, it became apparent that greater precision in the definition was needed to improve the accuracy and consistency of diagnosis and to enhance communication among researchers and health care providers. In 2004, the workgroup of the International Workshop on Definition and Classification of Cerebral Palsy undertook this challenge [2]. Motor impairment continued to be recognized as the central feature of CP, but the workgroup also appreciated the limitations of defining the disorder exclusively on this basis. It was recommended that a multidimensional and multidisciplinary approach be used to redefine CP, resulting in the following definition:

Cerebral palsy (CP) describes a group of permanent disorders of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitation, that are attributed to non-progressive disturbances that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain. The motor disorders of cerebral palsy are often accompanied by disturbances of sensation, perception, cognition, communication, and behaviour, by epilepsy, and by secondary musculoskeletal problems.

The workgroup provided a detailed rationale for each of the terms composing its definition, several of which are of interest to the neuropsychologist [2]. For example, “permanent” reflects the persistence of CP throughout the lifespan, although the clinical presentation may evolve as individuals with CP age.

Type
Chapter
Information
Principles and Practice of Lifespan Developmental Neuropsychology , pp. 205 - 220
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2010

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