Hemiplegia and Hemiplegia Cerebral Palsy

Hemiplegia is a condition that affects one side of the body in cerebral palsy patients, however it is not exclusive to cerebral palsy. Hemiplegia affects either the right or left side of the body. Hemiplegia is caused by damage to a part of the brain, which can occur before, during, or soon after birth, when it is known as congenital hemiplegia. If it occurs later in childhood (up to age 3), it is called acquired hemiplegia. Generally, injury to the left side of the brain will cause a right hemiplegia and injury to the right side a left hemiplegia. Childhood hemiplegia is a relatively common condition, affecting up to one child in 1,000.
Hemiparetic and Hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP) are two different forms of cerebral palsy with the same disabilities: one side of the body side is affected. Hemiplegic is the more severe form of the disorder that involves total paralysis on one side of the body, while those with hemiparetic CP experience muscle weakness and/or mild paralysis on the affected side of the body.
Caused by brain damage, hemiparetic and hemiplegic CP constitute at least a third of all people with CP in the United States and are typically diagnosed before a child turns 3 years old. Per the American Medical Association (AMA), there are several risk factors that may contribute to the development of hemiparetic and hemiplegic CP, including maternal or placental infection, asphyxia during birth, congenital heart disease, infant stroke, and/or mother and infant blood incompatibility.
At least 60% of all cases are a result of infant stroke. In most cases, the infant’s stroke will cause seizures within the first three days after birth. In other instances, the stroke may not be noticeable until several months and even years later.
Hemiplegia affects each child differently. The most obvious affects are a varying degree of weakness and lack of control in the affected side of the body. In one child this may be very obvious, in another child it will be so slight that it only shows when attempting specific physical activities.
Although there is no cure for hemiplegia, its effects can be minimized throughphysical therapy. Your child, once diagnosed, will probably be referred to a Child Development Centre (CDC) or the children's department of your local or regional hospital, where therapists will work with you to develop his or her abilities.
Because the immature brain is so flexible, many of the functions of the damaged area can be taken over by completely functional parts of the brain. Children and young people with hemiplegia will see a relatively small difference in their general development in the area of the brain that was damaged, especially in comparison to their elder counterparts.
A child with hemiplegia should be treated as normally as possible, when the circumstances allow. However, it is essential to include the weaker side in play and everyday activities, to make your child as ambidextrous as possible. Children with hemiplegia can be encouraged to develop better use of their weaker side through involvement in their chosen sports and hobbies, as they get older.

About half of children with hemiplegia do have additional problems related to cerebral palsy. Additional problems are usually medical in nature, such as epilepsy, visual impairment or speech difficulties. It has also become clear that many children have less obvious additional problems, such as perceptual problems, specific learning difficulties or emotional and behavioral problems, but with specialist treatment their effects on the child's life can be minimized.