The Cerebral Palsy Clinic at Texas
Children’s Hospital provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for
children with cerebral palsy and related disorders of body movement and
muscle coordination.
Cerebral palsy refers to any one of a number of neurological disorders that
appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement
and muscle coordination and may worsen over time. Even though cerebral
palsy affects muscle movement, it is not caused by problems in the muscles
or nerves, but rather by abnormalities in parts of the brain that control
muscle movements.
Cerebral palsy cannot be cured, but early treatment and therapy will often
allow children to overcome developmental challenges, learn new skills and
improve quality of life. Treatment options may include:
-
Physical and occupational
therapy
-
Speech therapy
-
Drug treatments to control seizures,
relax muscle spasms and alleviate pain
-
Surgery to correct anatomical
abnormalities or release tight muscles
-
Braces and other orthotic
devices
-
Wheelchairs and rolling
walkers
-
Communication aids such as
computers with attached voice synthesizers
-
Surgeries that can relieve tightness (spasticiy)
and improve dystonia (involuntary intermittent changes in muscle
tightness)
The Cerebral Palsy Clinic is a
multidisciplinary effort of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience in
cooperation with the department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Our clinic also works closely with Texas Children's
Neurosurgery
Clinic.
The Cerebral Palsy Clinic is held on Monday mornings.
