Q: If cerebral palsy is not progressive, how come my child seems to have gotten worse as she gets older?
By its definition, cerebral palsy is not progressive, which means that the injury to the brain does not get worse over time. The symptoms of cerebral palsy may, however, appear to change as the child matures. This is because of the abnormal signals in the brain that cause the spasticity . As a child grows, the bones grow as well. A spastic muscle may not stretch and grow at the same rate as the normal bone. This results in the muscle getting tighter as the child grows, and joints that once seemed loose now appear tighter. (top)

Q: Why do my child's bones seem to be twisting as she gets older?
Bones grow in response to the force of the muscles pulling on them. The injury to the brain impairs the brain's ability to control muscle activity. This may result in an imbalance of muscle activity, with some muscles being more spastic and exerting more of a force the one that moves in the opposite direction. This may result in changes in the bone as it grows. Common bony deformities in cerebral palsy are turning in of the hips or knees. (top)

Q: Is cerebral palsy curable?
No. Cerebral palsy is not curable. That does not mean, however, that children with cerebral palsy cannot grow up to be functional, independent members of the community. The best long-term results are related to beginning therapy as early as the diagnosis is made. Therapy may include physical, occupational and speech therapy. Treatment interventions are designed to maximize function and allow for the child to interact with family, friends and community. (top)

Q: What is meant by early intervention? Is this surgery?
Early intervention is the name given to services provided to a child under the age of three who demonstrates a known or suspected developmental or health problem, such as cerebral palsy. It does not involve surgery but aims to promote the control and the improvement of motor function, communication, cognition and social and emotional development. The goal of early intervention is to provide direct support to the family in order to promote the child's development and learning potential and to address parent needs and concerns. Early intervention services may be provided in the home or in a center-based program. In California , early intervention is provided by the California Regional Centers, through its “Early Start” Program. For more information about Early Start, see their website at http://www.dds.ca.gov/earlystart/eshome.cfm . (top)

Q: What did I do wrong to have a child with cerebral palsy?
In most instances, it is very difficult to determine the exact cause of cerebral palsy . For many children, injury to the brain may occur weeks before birth and are usually beyond the parents' control. With the exception of exposure to alcohol, drugs or smoking during pregnancy, it is rare that any event or action on the part of the mother caused the child to have cerebral palsy. (top)

Q: What is the earliest a child with CP can be diagnosed?
A definite or suspect diagnosis is often possible in infancy. For some children with mild cerebral palsy, a definitive diagnosis may not be made until the child begins, or should begin, walking. (top)

Q: What observations of my child should make me suspicious that he may not be developing normally?
A child may not be developing normally if he or she has one or more of the following symptoms:
•  Irritability, fussiness, or not easily calmed
•  Difficulties in feeding such as choking or problems swallowing
•  Difficulty in holding up the head, rolling over, crawling or walking at the stages when most infants accomplish these skills
•  Lack of reaction or over-sensitivity to environmental stimuli (top)

Q: What kind of insurance do you accept?
The Center accepts all insurance carriers, however, if your insurance requires you to have an authorization to come to UCLA, you must obtain an authorization before making an appointment. To avoid problems on the day of your appointment, you may fax a copy of the authorization to the Center's administrative office at (310) 825-5290. (top)

Q: Do you accept MediCal or California Children's Services (CCS)?
MediCal is accepted for children under the age of three and adults over the age of twenty-one. For children between the ages of three and twenty-one who have cerebral palsy and CCS for their medical care, CCS is the primary insurer. These patients must obtain an authorization from their CCS Medical Therapy Unit (MTU) before making an appointment to the Center. According to California state requirements governing the use of CCS, we cannot accept MediCal as a substitute for a CCS authorization. For further information on California Children's Services, contact them at their website (top) http://www.dhs.cahwnet.gov/pcfh/cms/ccs/.