Cerebral palsy is the name given to a grouping of challenges affecting one's ability to move/control their body. Cerebral Palsy can be caused by a brain injury or genetic mutations relating to brain development. It is often used as an 'umbrella' diagnosis for many children whom may have neuromotor challenges, despite them possibly also having other more specific diagnoses.

Cerebral Palsy can range from mild to severe, and in some cases, may also be linked to intellectual disability, seizures, and vision and hearing problems.

According to the Centre of Disease Control and Prevention, the early signs to watch for are:

• baby's head lags when picked up while he’s lying on his back
• baby feels stiff
• baby feels floppy
• when baby is held cradled in your arms, she seems to overextend her back and neck, constantly acting as if she is pushing away from you
• when you pick baby up, his legs get stiff and they cross or scissor
• child not meeting standard developmental milestones
• fisted hands
• preferential use of one side of the body over the other

Treating Cerebral Palsy is complex and here’s no cookie-cutter approach as each individual is affected differently. Although the brain injury that causes Cerebral Palsy cannot be healed, the resulting physical impairment can be managed and improved with a wide range of treatments and therapies. Being that SMILE's focus is working with children with neuromotor challenges, the selection of therapies that we've brought under our roof have all proven anecdotally and/or through evidence-based research to be effective in helping kids with Cerebral Palsy. We look forward to assisting families with navigating which treatment(s) types may be the most optimal for their child.