What Is Athetoid Cerebral Palsy

Athetoid cerebral palsy is a form of athetonia, which is marked by slow, writhing involuntary muscle movement. A mixed muscle tone where some are too high and others too low also characterize Athetoid cerebral palsy. Damage to the basal ganglia, located in the midbrain, is the cause of athetoid cerebral palsy. Approximately 25 percent of cerebral palsy patients are affected by athetoid cerebral palsy. Athetoid cerebral palsy can also be referred to as dyskenetic cerebral palsy.
The part of the brain affected manages co-ordination and body posture.
A child suffering from this type of CP may exhibit normal learning with however no two cases are exactly the same and different parts of the body affected. The range of severity is broad although many children display similar characteristics.
Athetoid cerebral palsy symptoms:
Involuntary movements brought on because of the changes in muscle tone - tense and then relaxed.
Emotional stress heightens the symptoms so it is beneficial to keep the child as relaxed as possible. Involuntary movement tends to subside during rest and sleep.
Eye contact problems because random movements create focusing issues.
Speech can be affected due to breathing problems and tongue and vocal chord control.
Frustration can often be a problem as a child keen to perform a task which random involuntary movements prevent them from doing.
Drooling and eating problems are also symptoms of the condition.
Doctors may be reluctant to diagnose athetoid cerebral palsy until a child has failed developmental milestones. It is often the case that parents identify problems before medical diagnosis.
Other common associated conditions include:
Learning Difficulty
Epilepsy
Spatial Awareness
Hearing Problems
Behavioral Problems
Sleep Problems
Difficulty Feeding
Drooling

A person with athetoid cerebral palsy can also have difficulty holding onto an object, like a pencil or eating utensil, because of the mixed tone of muscles. Athetoid cerebral palsy can make a person work and concentrate harder than usual to get their hand to a certain spot, like scratching their nose. This is also concurrent with big, involuntary movements and is found through the entire body rather than being restricted to a certain area. The treatment of athetoid cerebral palsy varies on the concentration of symptoms. It is important for physical therapy to begin soon after diagnosis is made. Daily range of motion exercises will help prevent muscles from growing weak and atrophied or rigidly fixed from contracture. For those suffering from dysarthia, speech therapy can help improve swallowing and communication. A speech therapist also can work with the child to learn to use special communication devices like computers with voice synthesizers.