Autism & Cerebral Palsy are they inter-related?

After three of  months reading about cerebral palsy , autism and  sensory impairment  ,vestibular and associated conditions ;A question  continuously arising is Are these conditions inter related???

Although from the studies it can be concluded that cerebral palsy is the condition wherein the brain is damaged and this disorder is non-developmental. However autism on another hand is a developmental disorder wherein the child doesn’t reach the age group milestones as the peers, since there is retardation in the process of brain and nerve development.

The common aspect expect for mercury poisoning is the vestibular system. Balance, posture and spatial orientation of body is achieved and maintained by a complex set of sensorimotor control systems. It includes inputs from eyes, inputs from muscle and joints, inputs from vestibular system, integration of sensory processing the conflict between the inputs, reflex motor output, learning and retention of knowledge. In cerebral palsy it is seen that either sensory inputs or motor reflexes or both can be affected due to the kind and extent of damage to the brain whereas in autism sensory integration dysfunction is observed which leads to their overstimulated or calm behavior.

It is still a topic of debate whether cerebral palsy and autism are interrelated. But it can be stated that the treatment of both involves stimulation of vestibular system by Swinging, Bouncing, Twirling, tilting and rotation motions etc  along with various other therapies and it should be noted  time plays a very important factor in both the cases.

Autism....

Another intellectual disorder which is less studied and closely related to CP yet differs in terms of physical impairment is Autism. Autism affects the social interaction and behavior of child .Also communication both verbal and non-verbal is seen to be affected. Like cerebral palsy every child has his/her own unique pattern of impairment. The extent of penetration of this developmental disorder differs from individual to individual.

Individuals and children suffer from the following conditions namely speech and language difficulties, intellectual disability, sleep problems, attention problems, epilepsy, anxiety, depression and difficulties with fine and gross motor skills.

An autism spectrum finds its roots in lack in sensory integration of body. It is observed that children with autism have either hypo or hyper activity of vestibular and nerves related to it. Unlike Cerebral palsy autism is treatable to an extent wherein the child can lead a normally life overcoming all the communication and behavioral challenges. Early detection of autism leads to quicker and better chances of recovery of the child.

There is no medical treatment which can cure autism. However drug therapy or medications can help to reduce depression, anxiety , manage  energy levels etc. ,behavioral and responsive training and interventions may help to teach them desired behavioral patterns; occupational and speech therapy helps to teach and inculcate basic living and communication skills. However the most important of all is the sensory integration therapy which involves stimulation of vestibular system and other nerves. This is achieved using various physiotherapy exercises involving rotation, tilting etc.

Exploring few facts on cerebral palsy....

Cerebral Palsy a less explored yet a serious neurological disorder. This condition is caused due to any brain injury or any abnormality in the  brain development occurring during a child’s birth ,during birth or immediately after birth. Also sudden fever, maternal infections, deprivation of oxygen during labour, birthing trauma during labour and delivery , complications during pregnancy or early childhood may lead to the Cerebral palsy . Cerebral palsy is often referred as CP. CP primarily interrupts posture , body movement, muscle coordination, reflexes and balance. The secondary health defects arising from the disorder are poor sensation, problems of communication, perception, behavior etc .

Cerebral palsy causes both physical as well as intellectual impairment. Individuals with CP find it difficult to crawl, walk, and sit or even to grasp an object at times. Their muscles contract too much, too little, or all at the same time. Limbs can be stiff and forced into painful, awkward positions. They often face difficulty in thinking and reasoning, .The type of movement dysfunction, the location and number of limbs involved, as well as the extent of impairment, varies from individual; to individual depending upon the extent of brain damage.

Cerebral Palsy is non-life-threatening, incurable, non-progressive & permanent disorder. Every case of CP is unique such as an individual may have complete paralysis while another may have partial, some individual may suffer from intellectual disability while some may not.

 Treatment of CP includes physiotherapy therapy, speech therapy, drug treatment to control seizures, relax muscle spasms, and alleviate pain; surgery to correct anatomical abnormalities or release tight muscles; all the types of therapies focus on managing abnormal muscle tone and minimizing its effects on function, maintaining and improving movement and mobility skills, maintaining flexibility and preventing pain or discomfort.

The fight of toddlers....

Life teaches us at every moment to move on forward without looking backwards. And in the process of living, learning and realization are two things each and every one procures from …their own and others life well. Over a few months day by day I have been realizing that  life at times seem to be too unjust to few people but I guess they are the strongest of  us all as they are fighting  a silent  battle within themselves. I happened to meet such little warriors at Amal Physiotherapy centre ,it was a very touchy experience to see them fighting the condition life has put forth in front of them .Six toddlers all not more than 4 years of age and their mothers showed me not giving up is the biggest victory .

All of the children there suffered from cerebral palsy. Cerebral meaning brain & palsy meaning   a condition that is characterized by uncontrollable tremor or quivering of the body or one or more of its parts. cerebral palsy is a collective term that refers to the  neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement, muscle coordination, and balance. The part of the brain that controls muscle movements is affected. The most common symptoms of CP are  lack of muscle coordination while performing voluntary movements (ataxia); stiff or tight muscles and exaggerated reflexes (spasticity); walking with one foot or leg dragging; walking on the toes, a crouched gait, or a “scissored” gait; and muscle tone that is either too stiff or too floppy. Other neurological symptoms that commonly occur include seizures, hearing loss and impaired vision, bladder and bowel control issues, and pain and abnormal sensations. It cannot be cured, but treatment often improves the child's capabilities. The earlier treatment begins the better chance the child has of overcoming developmental disabilities or learning new ways to accomplish the tasks that challenge him/her. Early intervention, supportive treatments, medications, and surgery can help them improve their muscle control.

At Amal, I could witness that struggle of toddlers towards gaining independency to some extent in day to day living .It was painful to see it but at the same time what more I saw was the spark in their eyes ..The quest to defeat the inadequacy.

Converting barriers to facilities…the Need!!

People with disabilities and their families often find their lives unsatisfactory as compared to others. They feel that they do not have sufficient control on their lives and day to day living as well, even they find insufficient choices in tiny things in life .They often have limited access and inclusivity to various streams such as education; employment etc. even today in society along with disability comes stigma and discrimination. Restriction in Participation and lack of feeling the connectedness with others leads to their recessive involvement in society.

With the advent of new technologies of modern science, new hopes are emerging for People with disabilities. Assistive technology, is adapted to everyone’s abilities, means that disabled end users will be able to participate in all aspects of life on more better and equal terms than ever before. It is vital that people are able to benefit on an equal basis from the rapid development of technology, to enable them to partake in an inclusive and barrier‐free society.

Technological innovations that promote independence, community participation, and healthful living are the necessity today .Areas were technological interventions are needed are personal assistance, caregiver assistance, mobility, cognition, perception, awareness, sensation, vocation. Also tools and measures must be developed to assess the impact of technology on activity, quality of life, cost, community participation, and health (beyond morbidity and mortality).

Knowing more about disability

 "Disability" is nothing but an impairment or restriction in a person's ability to function normally. This can be caused by one or several changes in various subsystems of the body, or the mental health. The degree of disability may range from mild to moderate, severe, or profound .A person may have one or multiple disabilities.

Conditions causing disability are broadly categorized as inherited ,congenital the one  caused by a mother's infection or other disease during pregnancy, embryonic or fetal developmental irregularities, or by injury during or soon after birth ,acquired, such as conditions caused by illness or injury ( sudden fever, accidents)

Types of disabilities are not mutually exclusive i.e. each type of disability may impact one or more categories of disability. However disabilities are classified as follows:

Physical & sensory disability

Physical disability is any condition which restricts or causes impairment in the movement of limbs or fine bones of the body whereas Sensory disability is impairment of one or more senses. It includes vision loss of a person, deafness (condition in which individuals are fully or partially unable to perceive at least some frequencies of sound which can be heard by other people),Olfactory and gustatory impairment (Impairment of the sense of smell and taste and are commonly associated with aging),Insensitivity to stimuli such as touch, heat, cold, and pain are often an adjunct to a more general physical impairment involving neural pathways and is very commonly associated with paralysis is known as Somatosensory impairment

Balance disorder & Intellectual disability

A balance disorder is a disturbance that causes an individual to feel unsteady, for example when standing or walking. Balance is the result of co-ordination between several body systems working together. The visual system, vestibular system and proprioception need to be intact. The brain, which compiles this information, needs to be functioning effectively.

Intellectual disability is a concept that ranges from mental retardation to cognitive deficits too mild or too specific to qualify as mental retardation. Intellectual disabilities may appear at any age.

A disability of any sort presents challenges to the affected person and people around them in day to day life .However the advent of new technology in the healthcare domain enables them to cope up with the challenges and have a fulfilling life that’s living how they want to.

The healing power of love...

Love when we here this word all that comes to the mind is nothing but roses, gifts , music, lights on and on… everything that is romantic correct???  And every one of us believes in this intense emotion of nature. Love has various forms and elements in it to name a few Care, empathy, choosing someone as your priority and so on. It is always about knowing and realizing that there is someone whom you know you can always count on. The one who can bear toddlers tantrums to teenage angst, the person who gave you  life, the one who loves you unconditionally, warmth of her hug overpowers everything that surrounds you .It’s true, mothers’ love is priceless and virtually impossible to describe. It is a feeling that can be only understood when experienced. It is rightly said a child gives birth to a mother. Yes a woman feels completely overwhelmed with emotions when she knows that she is going to be a mother .Things change altogether right from morning sickness, fatigue, sleeplessness, and postpartum depression to feeling anxious about caring for the new baby she goes through all of it. And all this time with her stands a very strong person as he is supposed to be the father who also sees dreams of the family’s future along with her .Being a parent is very difficult and parenting/catering a child with disability or special needs is far more challenging and difficult .Along with the news of child’s disability comes the feeling of shock, numbness, sadness, denial, blame, fear, confusion, rejection and grief. One cannot run away from what he or she feels as there is no right or wrong way for the feelings. Learning to deal with these feelings after diagnosis is nothing but a positive indication about coming to terms with life and moving on with your child’s life, your family life and your life too.

While Keeping in touch with Reality maintaining a positive attitude throughout   and realizing the importance of time in finding Programs, treatment, therapies for Your Child is very important. Also one important thing to remember here is that you are not alone, there are many parents who share the same grief and we at transpact are there with you all in this struggle.

Your love towards your child is the best support and an inspiration for you throughout the journey. Love, not only will help you to accept things, but will eventually transform and  heal your heart and will give you a hope for bright future.