Cerebral Palsy: A Complete Guide for Caregiving (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book)

"Sound professional advice and a caring commitment to work with you to do what's best for your child -- that's what anyone who is the parent of a child with cerebral palsy wants. And that's what Drs. Miller and Bachrach and their colleagues offer in this book." -- from the Foreword by Joan Lenett Whinston, parent of a child with cerebral palsy and author of I'm Joshua & "Yes I Can" Written by a team of experts associated with the duPont Hospital for Children, this book provides an authoritative overview of cerebral palsy, a term for a group of chronic conditions affecting body movements and muscle coordination, caused by damage to one or more areas of the brain, usually during fetal development. The condition is often difficult to diagnose, and predictions about long-term prognosis seldom come before the child's second birthday. The authors describe the specific patterns of involvement (hemiplegia, diplegia, quadriplegia), explain the medical and psychosocial implications of these conditions, and show parents how to be effective advocates for their child. They provide a wealth of practical advice about caregiving and explain medical terms and diagnoses, surgical procedures, orthopedic devices, and assistive technologies. The book also includes lists of resources and recommended reading. " Cerebral Palsy addresses the many complexities and uncertainties related to this diagnosis. At the same time, it provides the information parents, grandparents, caregivers, and health professionals need -- everything from medical, educational, and psychosocial implications to wheelchair maintenance and dental care." -- Exceptional Parent