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What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral Palsy is a condition caused by damage to a child’s brain during pregnancy, labor, or shortly afterbirth. “Cerebral” refers to the brain, and “palsy” to a disorder of movement or posture. It is neither

progressive nor communicable. Cerebral palsy is not“curable” in the conventional sense, although training and therapy can help improve patients condition. It is not a disease and should never be referred to as such.

What are

the effects?

Cerebral palsy is characterizedby an inability to fully control motor function. Depending on which part of the brain has been damaged and the degree

of involvement of the central nervous system, one or more of the following may occur: increased or decreased muscle tone; spasms;disturbance in gait and mobility; seizures; abnormal sensation and perception; impairment of sight, hearing or speech; and mental retardation.

What are the causes?

Any damage to the brain, whether caused by defective development, injury, or disease, may produce cerebral palsy. Among the causes is insufficient oxygen reaching the fetal or newborn brain. Other causes can be associated with premature birth, Rh factor or A-B-Oblood type incompatibility between parents, viral disease in early pregnancy,or microorganisms attacking the newborn’s central nervous system. A less common type is acquired -head injury is the most frequent cause. This can occur as a result of auto accidents, falls, or child abuse.

Can Cerebral Palsy be

treated?

When discussing cerebral palsy,“management” is a better word to use than treatment. This means helping the child achieve maximum potential in growth and development. This should start as early as possible and should include attention to the child’s movement, learning,speech, hearing, social and emotional development. Effective management

programs use physicians, therapists, educators, nurses,social workers and other professional to assist the family as well as the child. Certain medications,surgeries, and braces are sometimes used to improve nerve and muscle coordination or to prevent and correct deformity.

What is Cerebral Palsy

of Louisiana?

Cerebral Palsy of Louisiana is an independent,

nonprofit health organization which provides direct

services to persons with cerebral palsy throughout the

state of Louisiana. These services are provided at no

cost to the client. C.P. of LA is governed by a volunteer

board of directors and is comprised of staff personnel

and a network of parents, consumers (clients), and volunteers from all over the state. Its primary objective is to raise sufficient funds to provide services to all persons with cerebral palsy living in Louisiana.

What services does

Cerebral Palsy of

Louisiana provide?

Assistance with the purchase, rental and repair

of durable medical equipment; assistance with

payment for physical and occupational therapy,

prescription shoes, and evaluations; a quarterly

newsletter; instructional brochures; literature,

and films; an adult sports program.

Who qualifies for

services?

Any person with cerebral palsy living in the state

of Louisiana qualifies for the services provided

by Cerebral Palsy of Louisiana. However, the organization does not duplicate services provided by another program for which the client qualifies (fore x a m p l e ,Medicare/Medicaid orSSI). In addition, C.P.of LA does not pay for any services covered by a client’s insurance or any portion of a client’s insurance deductible.

The organization will help pay for services not covered by a client’s insurance company. We are a third party and try to catch clients who fall through the services safety net.

How do I request

assistance?

In order to obtain services, a formal request,along with certain applicable documentation isnecessary. To get more information, call or write

C.P. of LA at 2380 Barataria Blvd., Suite

5, Marrero, LA, 70072,

(504) 341-0676 or 1-800-375-8275.