Cerebral palsy is a term which encompasses many different disorders of movement and posture. Protecting the child from injury is the most important responsibility of the child’s parents.
One such injury is asphyxia, which can damage the brain. It is the number one cause of Cerebral Palsy in small children. The shaken baby syndrome is one form of child abuse, in which the caretaker is trying to quiet the baby by shaking too vigorously that it can cause the brain to strike repeatedly against the skull under high pressure.
Severe infections, especially meningitis or encephalitis, can also lead to brain damage in this age group. Either of these infections can cause disabilities ranging from hearing loss to Cerebral Palsi to severe retardation.
