Adopting Children with Developmental Disabilities : Part 2

by Child Welfare Information Gateway

(Page 2 of 3)

Cerebral Palsy

A catch-all term, cerebral palsy refers to a group of conditions resulting from brain damage before, during, or shortly after birth. It is not hereditary and is often attributed to a lack of oxygen to the brain. The most obvious symptom is an inability to coordinate or control muscles; children with cerebral palsy lack muscle control in one or more parts of their bodies. Children whose conditions are more serious may experience other symptoms, such as convulsive disorders, limited general intelligence, and problems in thinking, expressing thoughts, speaking, hearing, and seeing. Some children who have serious limb involvement attend orthopedic schools (part of the public school system) where occupational and physical therapy are part of the curriculum.

While cerebral palsy is a permanent disability that cannot be cured, many people with the condition experience no limitation to their abilities to achieve. Many have risen high in the fields of medicine, law, education, and writing. Some people with cerebral palsy have completed the New York Marathon race. These are cases in which mental function has not been impaired.

Autism

Autism is a distinct developmental brain disorder with both physical and behavioral components. It affects the brain areas controlling language, social interaction and abstract thought. About one in every one thousand people are autistic. The symptoms vary greatly, but usually become apparent by two or three years of age and affect males more often than females. People with autism share a common problem of having difficulty expressing what they mean or sometimes cannot speak. Emotional problems and mental retardation can also be present. Individuals with autism are usually very sensitive to sensory stimuli and are often overwhelmed by ordinary sounds, sights, smells and touch.

The cause of autism is still unclear, although the most widely accepted explanation is a combination of genetic factors and damage affecting the part of the brain that processes and interprets information. Autistic youngsters are often described as being "in a shell" or "living in a world all their own."

While autism is considered a life-long condition, good educational training and programs reduce the severity of its symptoms. Occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and medication are sometimes helpful. In the cases where retardation is accompanied by normal or superior skills (as in arithmetic, music, or memory), these skills can be expanded.

Epilepsy

There are many definitions of epilepsy. Generally, the term, which comes from the Greek word for "seizures", is applied to a number of disorders of the nervous system centered in the brain. Seizures of one kind or another are the primary characteristics or symptoms of all forms of epilepsy. Not all seizures, however, are epileptic in nature. Seizures are characterized by one or more of these symptoms: convulsions of the body's muscles, partial or total loss of consciousness, mental confusion, or disturbances of bodily functions which are usually controlled automatically by the brain and nervous system.

There is no known cause of epilepsy. Scientists generally agree that epilepsy can result from defects in the brain; brain injury before, during, or after birth; head wounds, chemical imbalance, poor nutrition, childhood fevers, some infectious diseases, brain tumors, and some poisons. But sometimes the cause cannot be found.

Strictly speaking, epilepsy is not curable, but it is highly treatable. It can be controlled in varying degrees by careful use of medicines (up to 50% of those affected can achieve complete control, and 30% partial control of their seizures).

In most cases, people with epilepsy have the same general range of intelligence as other people. Only occasionally do uncontrolled seizures during childhood affect mental capacity. A brain injury or disorder of the central nervous system, which caused epilepsy, may also cause other conditions that affect mental development, for example, mental retardation or cerebral palsy.

Spina Bifida

Spina bifida is a birth defect involving the nervous system. It occurs when the vertebral bony units that cover and protect the spinal cord do not develop fully. The spinal cord fails to form a tube and send out enough nerve fibers to the muscles below. As a result, the lower extremities and the lower part of the tube are affected in various ways. A child may not be able to move his legs, may not feel heat, touch, or pain, and may not be able to achieve bowel and bladder control. Many children, however, are able to walk unaided. Others require braces and crutches; still others are restricted to wheelchairs. The bowel and bladder function, but are commonly susceptible to infection.

Frequently, a problem called hydrocephalus accompanies spina bifida, which is an abnormally rapid and excessive enlargement of the head caused by fluid backup. Immediate treatment calls for insertion of a shunt or tube to drain fluid off the brain. Once a shunt has been properly inserted, the hydrocephalus seldom causes further problems. Shunting has also proven effective in preventing hydrocephalus. This procedure is critical - not only for cosmetic purposes, but also to prevent brain damage which often is a result of the increased pressure. Early damage can result in mild or even severe retardation. Many children with spina bifida are of average or higher intelligence.

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