Cerebral Palsy : A Complete Guide for Caregiving

Reviewer: Allison Martin

Cerebral Palsy : A Complete Guide for Caregiving, by one of the leading experts in the field, provides in-depth coverage of the major issues of cerebral palsy. It addresses many of the issues confronting parents of children with cerebral palsy in a question and answer format.

Cerebral Palsy : A Complete Guide for Caregiving covers a range of ages (from baby to adult) and range of severity (impaired to handicapped). A large portion of the book is dedicated to questions and answers regarding the three major forms of cerebral palsy: diplegia, hemiplegia and quadraplegia. Developmental stages, milestones and issues for each type of cerebral palsy are described, from infant to teenager. Medical problems associated with cerebral palsy and intellectual, psychological and social development are addressed for all ages. Lastly, related topics such as finanical care, navigating the educational system, legal issues, and hospitalization are also covered. Supplemental information is provided on caregiving procedures and equipment such as tube feeding, adaptive equipment, growth charts, and orthopedics. A very comprehensive dictionary rounds out the book.

Parents of children with cerebral palsy or motor delays will find Cerebral Palsy : A Complete Guide for Caregiving to be an exceptional reference book for their child. Parents of preemies will also find a wealth of information here, as the scope of the book encompasses many developmental issues related to prematurity.

Quote from the book on diplegia:

"The child with diplegia generally has nearly symmetrical involvement of both legs with only mild clumbsiness in the arms. Spastic muscles and delayed growth of these muscles cause leg muscles to be short and as a result the joints become stiff and the range of motion decreases as the child grows. For most children with diplegic involvement, the foot and ankle present more of a problem than the knee, and the hips may become dislocated (for this reason, the child's hips must be closely monitored).

Many children with diplegia were born prematurely and have had respiratory problems. Most of them have normal or near normal learning abilities. mild eye problems, such as crossing, are common. For the majority of children with diplegia, growth and development are not a problem. Children with diplegia are eventually able to walk, although most of them begin walking late; they generally attend regular schools and become independently functioning adults."

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