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Thanks to high-quality Cerebral Palsy Center care, having CP meant using a walker with only occasional balance problems and stiffness in her legs.
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Cerebral palsy (CP) is actually a collective term for a number of neuromuscular disorders that affect a child’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. “Cerebral” means having to do with the brain, and “palsy” means weakness or problems with using the muscles. CP is the most common motor disability in childhood. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 1 in every 323 children living in the United States has cerebral palsy. At the Cerebral Palsy Center we also treat children with CP-like conditions that have another specific diagnosis like Rett Syndrome.
CP is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain, particularly in areas which control muscles and movement. CP is neither genetic nor an infectious disease. Approximately 90 percent of kids with CP are born with it, although it may not be detected until months or years later. The earliest signs usually appear before a child reaches 3 years of age. Less than 10 percent of children have cerebral palsy as the result of brain damage in the first few months or years of life, from a brain infection such as bacterial meningitis or viral encephalitis, or from a head injury such as a car accident, fall or child abuse.
Cerebral palsy-like conditions may have many different specifically identified causes including genetic problems. It's important to make the specific diagnosis whenever possible to determine treatment, to understand prognosis and for genetic counseling.
A child’s symptoms depend upon the exact areas of the brain that are affected. Children with milder symptoms might walk a little awkwardly, but might not need any special help. Those with more severe cases, however, might need special equipment to walk, or might not be able to walk at all. Children with CP also frequently have spasticity (muscle spasms or uncontrolled movements), seizures, urinary incontinence (inability to control the muscles holding the bladder closed), behavioral disorders, developmental delay, intellectual disability, and speech/language problems. Children with more severe CP may need lifelong care and assistance.
In order for bones to attain their normal shape and size, they require the stresses from normal musculature (the force on the bones from normally developed muscles). So, a child with cerebral palsy may have a variety of bone and joint deformities. Some kids with CP may be shorter in height than the average person because their bones are not allowed to grow to their full potential. Sometimes, bones also grow to different lengths, so a child may have one leg longer than the other.
CP disorders don’t worsen over time, but kids’ symptoms may change as they grow.
To help diagnose children with cerebral palsy (CP), we’ll first seek to carefully understand any past medical history and how kids have developed since birth. Some diagnostic imaging scans or blood tests may be used to rule out other diagnoses, but it’s important to note that there’s currently no scan or blood test that can be used to confirm a CP diagnosis. In fact, many children have normal scans and blood tests and still have cerebral palsy. In these kids, the current understanding is that the cerebral palsy condition is caused by microscopic changes in the brain that we can’t see with current images or blood tests.
Although there's no cure for CP, a variety of treatments and therapies can help improve your child’s quality of life. At the Cerebral Palsy Center, we focus on treatments with documented outcomes, favoring the least invasive treatment possible. Our specific areas of focus include treatment of spinal deformities, and dislocation of the hips and other bones. Our Cerebral Palsy Center experts offer surgical treatment of these areas if necessary, as well as pain management techniques for those children who need it. We may also recommend a body brace (a brace around the torso to help patients remain upright), which can provide some comfort while sitting.
For those children who need it, we recommend therapy to encourage the functional use of their hands. We may use splinting, but only if needed, to prevent deformity.
If your child has spasticity (muscle spasms or uncontrolled movements), we most often use a team approach to the management of the condition, bringing in specialists from neurology, rehabilitation medicine, physical therapy and any other necessary disciplines. There are a number of treatments available, depending on the location and severity of your child’s spasticity.
CP is classified according to the kind of movement disorder involved, which can be further described by the parts of the body affected.
Our multidisciplinary team of experts has extensive experience with a wide range of problems commonly found in children with CP including hip dislocations, scoliosis, spasticity and gait problems. Learn More »
This is the most common type of CP, affecting more than 70 percent of children with CP. Kids with spastic CP have increased muscle tone (this is called “hypertonia”), so their muscles are overly stiff. This is due to a lesion (an injured or abnormal spot) in certain areas of the brain and spinal cord, specifically the upper motor neurons and the corticospinal tract or the motor cortex.
This damage impairs the ability of some nerves in the spine to transmit signals from one neuron (nerve cell) to another — they don’t properly receive a neurotransmitter (the chemical needed to transmit signals) called “gamma-aminobutyric acid” (or “GABA”), leading to hypertonia in the muscles controlled by those damaged nerves.
Due to the constant state of muscle stiffness, the movements of children with spastic CP can be awkward.
Compared to other types of CP, children with spastic CP usually find it a bit easier to manage. The spasticity can, however, lead to contractures or short muscles and cause joint dislocation leading to arthritis — often as early as a person’s mid-20s. Occupational therapy and physical therapy methods that include assisted stretching and strengthening, as well as targeted physical activity and exercise are usually the main methods to manage spastic CP. Aquatic therapy also can help in many cases.
If the spasticity is severe, we may recommend medications such as antispasmodics (medicines to prevent spasms), Botox (a protein that helps to relax the muscles) and baclofen (a medicine that relaxes the muscles). These may be administered orally or through a pump implanted under the skin. Oral doses go through the digestive system, and not all of the medicine makes it to the spinal fluid where it’s needed. The pumps are designed to deliver the medication directly to the spinal fluid, so much lower doses can be used.
Early treatment is important to prevent hip dislocation and arthritis. As your child grows, we’ll carefully monitor his or her hips, especially under the age of 10, when hips typically dislocate. Most often, we’ll perform X-rays of your child’s hips once a year to help stay ahead of any dislocation.
Some children develop knee or feet problems that can make walking difficult. In this case, we may recommend correction so your child can continue to walk. We may also recommend surgical lengthening of your child’s muscles, most often in middle childhood (6-9 years old). As your child gets older, particularly past the age of 10, we’ll pay special attention to your child’s spine, as many children develop scoliosis and need proper wheelchair seating, spinal orthotics or even surgery. This is more commonly required in children who have no ability to walk. We’ll continue to carefully monitor everything until your child is done growing.
Our multidisciplinary team of experts has extensive experience with a wide range of problems commonly found in children with CP including hip dislocations, scoliosis, spasticity and gait problems. Learn More »
Children with athetoid dystonic (also called “dyskinetic” meaning a disorder of movement) cerebral palsy may have mixed muscle tone. The term “dystonia” that’s often used in the name refers to sustained muscle contractions that cause twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures. That means they have both increased muscle tone or stiffness (hypertonia) and floppy, low muscle tone (hypotonia) — not only from day to day, but even during a single day.
This type of CP is due to damage in a specific part of the spinal cord (the extrapyramidal motor system and/or pyramidal tract and basal ganglia). One cause in newborn infants is high bilirubin (the brownish yellow substance from digestive acid that may cause a baby to appear jaundiced) levels in the blood, if left untreated.
Children with this type of CP may have problems controlling the movements of their hands, arms, feet and legs. In some children the arms are more affected than the legs, so they may be able to walk but have difficulty using their arms, although athetoid CP usually affects the whole body. This makes it difficult for children to walk, sit or even to hold themselves in an upright, steady position. Movements can be slow and writhing, or rapid and jerky. Sometimes the condition also affects the face and tongue, making it difficult for a child to swallow, suck, eat and talk.
It may take a lot of concentration and hard work for kids with this type of CP to get their hands to a certain spot, such as reaching for a glass or touching their nose. They may not be able to hold onto objects, especially small ones that require fine motor control, such as toothbrushes, pencils, etc.
At the Cerebral Palsy Center, we may recommend treatment that includes physical, occupational, speech and aquatic therapy. Medications may be used to control seizures, alleviate pain and relax muscle spasms.
Our multidisciplinary team of experts has extensive experience with a wide range of problems commonly found in children with CP including hip dislocations, scoliosis, spasticity and gait problems. Learn More »
Ataxic CP is a somewhat uncommon type of cerebral palsy, occurring in only 5 to 10 percent of all cases. Ataxic CP can be caused by damage to the cerebellum (the region of the brain that controls movement and, to a lesser extent, attention and language).
Kids with ataxic CP have problems with balance and coordination. Children with ataxic CP might have problems reaching for things. Some may have hypotonia (floppy, low muscle tone) and tremors (twitching). Often, vision and auditory problems are present.
Ataxic CP cases usually involve the whole body. However, in rare cases ataxic CP may affect one area of the body more than the other.
At the Cerebral Palsy Center, treatment of children with ataxic CP may include physical, occupational, speech and aquatic therapy. Our cerebral palsy experts may use medications to control seizures, alleviate pain and relax muscle spasms.
Our multidisciplinary team of experts has extensive experience with a wide range of problems commonly found in children with CP including hip dislocations, scoliosis, spasticity and gait problems. Learn More »
Mixed cerebral palsy is when symptoms of two or three types of CP are present simultaneously, each to varying degrees. The most common type of mixed CP is spastic-athetoid CP, but there are other combinations.
Kids with mixed forms of CP may exhibit some or all of the symptoms associated with each type of CP. Mixed CP is the most difficult to treat because its symptoms and development are diverse and sometimes unpredictable.
At the Cerebral Palsy Center, we may recommend treatment that includes physical, occupational, speech and aquatic therapy. Medications may be used to control seizures, alleviate pain and relax muscle spasms.
Our multidisciplinary team of experts has extensive experience with a wide range of problems commonly found in children with CP including hip dislocations, scoliosis, spasticity and gait problems. Learn More »
Within the Cerebral Palsy Center we also treat children with medical conditions that can cause symptoms (such as spastic quadriplegia or diplegia) typically associated with cerebral palsy (CP). Children with these CP-like conditions may have a general physical appearance and expected list of physical problems similar to children with CP, however there’s a specific recognized cause or combination of factors that indicate separate diagnoses.
(Confusing matters further, some physicians may use different names for CP, such as “static encephalopathy” or “developmental delay.” Developmental delay is a separate diagnosis used for young children who are expected to outgrow the delays, but some doctors continue to use it for children who have CP.)
The most common of the CP-like conditions we see are described below, although they’re all very rare (much more so than CP).
Children or teenagers whose brains are deprived of oxygen for a prolonged period of time may develop some permanent damage to their brain tissue. This damage is classified as cerebral palsy if it occurs in a child under 2 years old. Older children and teenagers may end up with slightly different symptoms due to this damage, but the symptoms will be similar.
The wide range of effects is similar to cerebral palsy, including spasms, low muscle tone and decreased abilities to control movement. Children with anoxic encephalopathy may make a full or near-full recovery. Alternately, they might have very severe long-term disabilities, similar to children with quadriplegic CP (paralysis of all four of child’s limbs and the inability to walk).
There are many causes of anoxic encephalopathy. One of the more common causes is an “apparent life-threatening episode” (or “ALTE,” often called “near-miss sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)” or “near-SIDS” (when a baby almost dies due to SIDS). Other incidents that prevent a child from getting oxygen for a long period of time include cardiac arrest, near-drowning, near-hanging and severe smoke inhalation.
We can diagnose this condition by observing your child and learning your child’s history, including any incidents of oxygen deprivation.
Our treatment follows the same pattern as for children with CP, although we expect the child to continue to rebound from the low-oxygen incident and improve for two to three years. Our recommended therapies usually focus on making new gains (when, in children with CP, new gains wouldn’t be expected). This is especially true for children 8 to 10 years of age and up. We also try to prevent hip dislocation and severe foot malformations.
Congenital cytomegalovirus infection (or “CMV”) is a congenital (present at birth) infection caused by a virus. This virus is related to the viruses that cause herpes simplex, chickenpox and shingles. Seizures and developmental delay are the main symptoms that this infection has in common with cerebral palsy.
Most infected children don’t show any symptoms at all. Only about 1 in 10 infants infected with CMV has symptoms, which may include:
Children’s psychomotor abilities also may be affected. Deafness is also a potential complication.
CMV occurs when infected mothers pass it to their fetuses through the placenta. The mothers may never have had symptoms and are, therefore, unaware that they carry the virus.
Our experts may diagnose the presence of a CMV infection during an examination in our center and from hearing about your child’s symptoms. During the exam, our physician may look for:
If the doctor suspects a CMV infection, your child may need to get a number of medical imaging and blood tests including:
There’s no cure or specific treatment for congenital CMV. Treatments depend on your child’s specific problems, and often include various therapies to help with motor difficulties. Your child’s hearing will need to be checked regularly. If your child has seizures, we may recommend medication. Some children with a CMV infection have problems walking and may need orthopedic treatment for foot or hip problems and/or scoliosis (a curving of the spine).
Congenital dystonia is a genetic or inherited condition that causes abnormal movement in the arms and legs. This twisting, repetitive movement or posture (or “dystonia”) is caused by frequent or constant muscle contractions. Usually it’s seen in all four limbs, but some children only have abnormality on one side or with just one limb. The severity varies greatly. Some children have minimal noticeable problems, whereas some are severely disabled and confined to wheelchairs.
Congenital dystonia always involves a lack of control over the body’s motor movements. Sometimes children may perform large movements, such as swinging their arms or legs. Others may twist when attempting an activity. The condition often progresses during the growth period in adolescence. However, in some it progresses in childhood and then becomes stable, or begins in childhood and slowly progresses.
The cause of congenital dystonia is an inherited or genetic defect. There are currently approximately 20 identified genetic causes, some of which are very specific defects that respond to medications. Knowing the specific cause can help us to provide a prognosis (a prediction of the future course of the condition).
It can be easy to make a diagnosis of congenital dystonia if other family members are known to have it. But most cases occur spontaneously and require complicated medical testing to diagnose, including spinal taps, brain scans and other specialized tests. It’s important to try to make a specific diagnosis because this can help determine the correct treatment.
The treatment for congenital dystonia is best determined by the specific cause and movement problems. Some types of congenital dystonia respond to medications so well that the abnormal movements are nearly completely controlled. In some, the implantation of a deep brain stimulator (a device that sends electrical impulses to specific parts of the brain to help control movement) may almost completely correct the problem. In rare cases, children who were not able to sit by themselves have gained the ability to walk again with the correct treatment. Most patients get some improvement with medication, deep brain stimulator treatment and physical therapy. Some need orthopedic treatment for foot deformities or scoliosis (a curving of the spine).
Cri du chat syndrome is a genetic disorder that gets its name from the French for “cry of the cat,” after the distinctive noise people with the condition make due to their malformed larynxes (or voice boxes). The sounds they make are similar to that of a meowing kitten. It’s also called “Lejeune’s syndrome” (after French pediatrician and geneticist Jérôme Lejeune).
Frequent symptoms of cri du chat syndrome include:
Other symptoms may include:
Cri du chat syndrome is a genetic disorder called a “monosomy.” With cri du chat syndrome, a baby has only one complete chromosome (we usually have a pair of chromosomes). Specifically, cri du chat occurs when a part of one chromosome is missing (this is called a “partial monosomy”).
Our physicians diagnose cri du chat syndrome through clinical observation. And genetic testing may confirm the diagnosis.
Children may need to see our speech, physical and occupational therapists. Behavioral health specialists may be called in to consult. Children with heart abnormalities often need corrective surgery, and those with hip, foot or spine problems may need orthopedic surgery for corrections. Your child’s doctor can go over your child’s specific therapy and treatment needs in detail.
Edwards syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of a particular chromosome, instead of the normal two (one from each parent). The condition is named for John Hilton Edwards, a British medical geneticist, who first described the syndrome in 1960. Edwards syndrome occurs in around 1 in 6,000 live births and around 80 percent of those affected are female. The majority of fetuses with Edwards syndrome die before birth, and only 5 percent of infants born with the syndrome live longer than 1 year, due to heart abnormalities, kidney malformations and other internal organ disorders.
Symptoms of Edwards syndrome frequently include:
Edwards syndrome is a genetic disorder called a “trisomy.” With Edwards syndrome, a baby has three instances of a particular chromosome, instead of the normal two. In Edwards syndrome, there are three copies of chromosome 18 (that’s why the disorder is sometimes called “trisomy 18”).The incidence of Edwards syndrome increases as the mother’s age before pregnancy increases.
Edwards syndrome can be identified during pregnancy by prenatal screening (blood tests or ultrasound). After birth, our physicians can diagnose Edwards syndrome by directly observing your child. Genetic testing can be used to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment depends upon the specific health problems involved, and often involves a number of medical specialists.
Familial spastic paraplegia (also called “hereditary spastic paraplegia”) is an inherited condition in which children have spasticity (severe muscle stiffness) that’s very similar to the spastic diplegia (paralysis in two parts of the body, usually both legs) form of cerebral palsy (CP). Some children may even have symptoms similar to spastic quadriplegia (paralysis in four parts). Although a parent may have the condition, not every child necessarily inherits it. When they do, the symptoms are usually similar to those of the parent. Most often, children have increased problems walking during the growth period. The progression of the decrease in function usually levels off in the teen years and remains stable into later adulthood. There are forms, though, which continue to get progressively worse.
Often, children with familial spastic paraplegia seem relatively normal as babies, then parents notice problems with walking. Although there may be minor differences, it’s not possible to tell the difference between CP and familial spastic paraplegia, as all of the typical problems found in kids with CP also occur in those with familial spastic paraplegia.
Familial spastic paraplegia is an inherited genetic disorder — or, rather, a group of conditions that look similar but have different genetic causes. A number of specific causes have been defined, but not all are yet known.
The most important information to be able to diagnose this disorder is the family history. Genetic testing can be done if there’s a sense that it might be familial spastic paraplegia. However, because many forms of familial spastic paraplegia still have undefined genetic defects, not every genetic test returns definite results.
The treatment for children with familial spastic paraplegia is much the same as for kids with CP. The spasticity can be managed with exercise, oral medication and baclofen pumps (baclofen is a medicine that relaxes the muscles). Problems related to walking (including feet, hip and spine problems) are treated with the same techniques as in CP, including therapy and orthopedic treatment.
This is a metabolic disorder (a condition involving the complex chemical reactions our bodies use to maintain life and energy production) in which a child’s body is unable to completely break down certain amino acids (the compounds that make up proteins — the building blocks of our body’s cells, muscles and other tissues). This disorder causes molecules to accumulate that can damage the brain and other organs, especially the part of the brain that helps regulate movement (called the “basal ganglia”). Also, neurotransmitters (chemicals that allow messages to be transmitted along nerve cells) that are needed for motor ability may not be produced.
Some children with glutaric aciduria are only mildly affected, whereas others have severe problems. Kids with the condition may have:
Glutaric aciduria is an inherited disorder, which means it’s caused by a mutation (change) that happens in a child’s genes. It occurs in approximately 1 of every 30,000 to 40,000 births, and is more common in closed populations, such as the Amish community and some Native American tribes where up to 1 in 300 newborns may be affected.
One of our physicians may diagnose the condition during an examination in our center. We may order blood tests to help confirm the diagnosis.
There’s no cure for glutaric aciduria. One of our nutrition specialists may help ensure that your baby is getting adequate amino acids. Our physical and occupational therapists can help your child maintain motor (movement) abilities and postural muscle tone while seating. We may recommend medication to control muscle spasms. In severe cases, we may implant a baclofen (medicine that relaxes the muscles) pump to help control the abnormal movements and spasticity.
Patau syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of a particular chromosome, instead of the normal two (one from each parent). The extra genetic material disrupts the normal course of development, causing multiple and complex organ defects. Patau syndrome affects somewhere between 1 in 10,000 and 1 in 21,700 live births. The condition was named for Klaus Patau, a German-born American geneticist, who identified the chromosomal nature of the disease in 1960.
Many infants have difficulty surviving the first few days or weeks after birth, due to severe neurological and cardiac defects, and problems with other organs. Of those that do survive, common symptoms may include:
Patau syndrome is a genetic disorder called a “trisomy.” With Patau syndrome, a baby has three instances of a particular chromosome, instead of the normal two. In Patau syndrome, there are three copies of chromosome 13 (that’s why the disorder is sometimes called “trisomy 13”). The risk of this syndrome in children increases with the mother’s age at pregnancy. It’s not said to be inherited, as it seems to be caused by random events during the formation of cells or an error in cell division during development.
Patau syndrome can be identified during pregnancy by prenatal screening (blood tests or ultrasound). After birth, our physicians can diagnose Patau syndrome through direct observation. We may use genetic testing to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment depends upon your child’s specific health problems, and often involves a number of medical specialists. Children with heart defects or cleft lip and cleft palate may need surgery. Physical, occupational and speech therapy can help children with Patau syndrome reach their full developmental potential. Those with hip, foot or spine problems may need orthopedic surgery for corrections.
Phenylketonuria (also called “PKU”) is a disorder in which babies are missing an enzyme called “phenylalanine hydroxylase,” which is needed to break down an essential amino acid called “phenylalanine.” This amino acid is found in foods that contain protein. Without the enzyme, levels of phenylalanine and other substances build up, causing damage to the central nervous system and brain.
Symptoms of PKU may include:
If left untreated, children may develop severe intellectual disabilities. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (or “ADHD”) appears to be a common problem in children who don’t stick to a very low-phenylalanine diet.
Phenylalanine plays a role in the body's production of the pigment responsible for skin and hair color (called “melanin”). Therefore, infants with phenylketonuria often have lighter skin, hair and eyes than brothers or sisters without the disease.
Phenylketonuria is an inherited disorder, meaning it’s passed down through families. Both parents must pass on the defective gene for a baby to have the condition. If a child is born with PKU and proteins containing phenylalanine aren’t avoided, it can lead to intellectual disabilities by the end of a baby’s first year of life.
PKU can be easily detected with a simple blood test. Every state in the United States requires a PKU screening test for all newborns as part of the newborn screening panel. The test is performed by taking a few drops of blood. If the initial screening test is positive, we can perform further blood and urine tests to confirm the diagnosis.
PKU is a treatable disease. Treatment involves a diet that’s extremely low in phenylalanine, especially during your child’s main growth phases. The diet calls for avoiding milk, eggs and the artificial sweetener NutraSweet, among other items. A special infant formula called “Lofenalac” is made for infants with PKU, and can even be used throughout your child’s life as a good protein source that’s low in phenylalanine and balanced for the remaining essential amino acids. Supplements such as fish oil, iron and carnitine may help improve neurologic development, including fine motor coordination (e.g., picking up small objects, stringing beads, using scissors, handwriting).
The diet must be strictly followed, and requires close supervision by a registered dietitian or doctor. Following the diet can help your child avoid developmental delays and lead a normal life. Your child will need to continue to follow the diet as an adult as well.
If the diet is closely followed, children can go on to enjoy relatively good health.
Rett syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder of the grey matter in the brain. It affects primarily females, but has also been found, very rarely, in males. The disorder was named for Andreas Rett, MD, an Austrian physician who first described it in a journal article in 1966. Rett syndrome is estimated to affect one in every 10,000 to 15,000 live female births, and in all racial and ethnic groups worldwide. It may also be called “cerebroatrophic hyperammonemia,” the medical name for the condition.
Children with Rett syndrome often have small hands and feet and may have a smaller head size for their age and gender than the average child (this is called “microcephaly”). Children may make repetitive hand movements — wringing them or repeatedly putting them into their mouths.
Typically, the children with Rett syndrome we see have no verbal skills, and about half don’t walk. Kids may also be prone to gastrointestinal (digestive) disorders, seizures, scoliosis (a curving of the spine), growth failure and constipation.
During infancy, children may progress normally, but experience slowed growth and development between 1 and 4 years old. There may be a loss of muscle tone (called “hypotonia”), difficulty feeding, jerkiness in limb movements and apraxia (the inability to perform motor functions, such as the ability to speak and maintain eye contact). These changes can be fairly sudden and rapid.
Some children with Rett syndrome have:
Nearly all cases of Rett syndrome are caused by a mutation (change) in a specific gene — called the “methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene.” This gene contains instructions for the synthesis of a protein needed for brain development and acts as one of the many biochemical switches that can either increase gene expression or tell other genes when to turn off and stop producing their own unique proteins. Mutations in other genes (called “CDKL5” and “FOXG1”) are also seen in children with Rett syndrome, but the role of these genes in the cause of the disorder is still being studied. Scientists believe a minority of cases may be caused by partial gene deletions or additional genes that have yet to be identified.
Although Rett syndrome is a genetic disorder, fewer than 1 percent of recorded cases are inherited or passed from one generation to the next. Most cases are spontaneous, which means the mutation occurs randomly.
The gene is found on the X chromosome (there are two chromosomes, which carry all of our genetic messages, in each gene). Because girls have two copies of the X chromosome, the severity of Rett syndrome in girls depends on how many of their body’s cells are affected. If the X chromosomes that are carrying the defective gene are turned off in a large proportion of cells, the symptoms will be mild. If, however, the percentage of cells with defective genes is larger, onset of the disorder may occur earlier and the symptoms may be more severe.
Boys with Rett syndrome (because they have only one X chromosome) have no protection from the harmful effects of the disorder and frequently don’t live long after birth. A very small number of boys may have a different mutation in the “MECP2 gene” and can live past birth, although with some degree of intellectual disability and developmental problems.
Our physician specialists can clinically diagnose Rett syndrome by observing your child during an examination in our center, and by hearing about your child’s symptoms. If needed to confirm the diagnosis, we can order a genetic test to see if there’s an MECP2 mutation on your child’s X chromosome.
We also may consult with one of the pediatric neurologists, clinical geneticists or developmental pediatricians who work with our center.
There’s no cure for Rett syndrome, but we can focus on managing your child’s symptoms. We offer an expert, supportive, multidisciplinary approach, involving specific medical specialties and therapists as needed. We may recommend medication for any breathing or motor difficulties, and anticonvulsant drugs to control seizures, if necessary. We’ll also check regularly for scoliosis (a curving of the spine) and heart abnormalities.
Occupational therapy may help your child develop the skills needed for performing activities such as dressing and feeding, and physical therapy and hydrotherapy can help your child maintain mobility. Some children may require nutritional assistance or special equipment and splints to modify hand movements. We offer academic, social and support services as well. Children with scoliosis and foot problems may require surgery, which can provide improved comfort and function.
Your child’s symptoms may require extra medical attention and care. However, many people with Rett syndrome continue to live well into middle age and beyond. We’ll do everything we can to help your child live as healthy and fulfilling a life as possible.
Schizencephaly is an extremely rare developmental birth defect that causes abnormal slits or clefts in the two sides (hemispheres) of the brain. The name comes from two Greek words meaning “to split the brain.”
Most babies with schizencephaly have seizures, and some have an excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain (hydrocephalus). Other symptoms vary, depending upon the type of clefts in a baby’s brain.
Babies with clefts in both hemispheres (called “bilateral clefts”) most often have:
Some babies with clefts in only one hemisphere (called “unilateral clefts”) may have average to near-average intelligence. However, others have abnormally small heads (called “microcephaly”) and intellectual disability. They may also have partial or complete paralysis and poor muscle tone. The functional ability of these children ranges from a near normal walk to being unable to walk at all.
The cause of schizencephaly remains unknown. Possibilities include an infection, mutation or exposure to a toxin during development.
Computed axial tomography (also called a “CAT” or “CT”) scan, a noninvasive medical imaging test of the head, can show the telltale damage to the hemispheres of the brain.
Treatment generally consists of physical therapy and occupational therapy to help with motor control. Children may need medications to prevent seizures. If your child has excessive fluid in the brain, one of our neurosurgeons can surgically implant a tube (called a “shunt”) to divert the fluid to another area of the body where it can be absorbed. The prognosis for babies with schizencephaly varies, depending on the size of the clefts and the extent of neurological disabilities. These kids may develop scoliosis (a curving of the spine), hip dislocation and foot deformities, so they should be monitored by an orthopedist for appropriate preventive and corrective treatments.
Our multidisciplinary team of experts has extensive experience with a wide range of problems commonly found in children with CP including hip dislocations, scoliosis, spasticity and gait problems. Learn More »