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more_legal_areas cerebral_palsyCerebral palsy is a group of physical disorders that affect motor skills and muscle development throughout the body. Caused by a brain injury or abnormal brain development, the onset of cerebral palsy can occur during fetal growth, at birth or until the third year of life. Even if cerebral palsy is present at birth, it may not be recognized until the child is between 1 and 3 years of age, due to the varying rate at which babies develop.
All people with cerebral palsy have problems with body movement. Some people are affected only in a certain part of their body; others are affected all over the body. In some cases, cerebral palsy affects the facial and throat muscles or the mouth and tongue, making it difficult to swallow. This condition is called dysphagia.
Usually a symptom of cerebral palsy that shows up shortly after birth, dysphagia causes a number of problems associated with eating, talking and breathing. Infants and young children with dysphagia can choke while being fed, leading to further complications and a medical emergency if the food is not able to be removed. Coughing and choking during feeding are common occurrences in people with cerebral palsy-related dysphagia.
When facial, mouth and tongue functions are limited by cerebral palsy, drooling often becomes a problem. Dysphagia prevents the proper swallowing of fluids from the mouth, which can irritate the skin around the mouth, chin and chest. Dysphagia may also make it difficult to brush the teeth, thus leading to dental problems.
A more serious complication of dysphagia in cerebral palsy occurs if food is inhaled into the lungs during feeding. The presence of food in the lungs increases the risk of pneumonia. Inability to swallow food may also lead to nutrient deficiency as well as excessive, unhealthy weight loss.
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