WHAT IS CEREBRAL PALSY?

The term cerebral palsy describes a range of conditions affecting a child’s ability to move or control their movement due to problems with development or injury to the immature brain.  The child’s movement can be affected by increased tone or stiffness in their muscles (spasticity); or by short and jerky movements (ataxia); or by poor control of slow or writhing movements (dyskinesia). 

Other terms commonly used to describe types of cerebral palsy include hemiplegia (one side of the body is more affected than the other); diplegia (the legs are more affected than the arms); and quadriplegia (all four limbs are affected).

More information about cerebral palsy in Northern Ireland can be found in our infographic. You can also download a copy of our information leaflets for families and children.

WHY CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY?

Cerebral palsy is the commonest cause of physical disability in children and it affects about one child in every 500.  There are approximately 60 children diagnosed with cerebral palsy each year in Northern Ireland.

Cerebral palsy is up to 80 times more common among babies born too soon or too small and the number of tiny babies surviving continues to increase.

Very little is still known about the precise causes of cerebral palsy and so the possibilities for prevention remain limited until more research is undertaken.

It is important to find out how services could be improved for children with cerebral palsy.

For more information on the NICPR, please watch the video below. 

USEFUL LINKS

Here are some useful links to other webpages.

NICPR NEWSLETTERS

The NICPR sends a quarterly newsletter to healthcare professionals who notify children to the Register. These newsletters address areas of practice and research that have been raised by our stakeholders. You can read the NICPR newsletters on our website.

OTHER REGISTERS, NETWORKS & RESEARCH CENTRES

• International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability
• Cerebral Palsy Foundation
• CanChild Centre for Child Disability Research 
• CP Alliance
• CP Research Ireland
• Peninsula Cerebra Research Unit (PenCRU)
• CP Achieve
• Australian Cerebral Palsy Register

UK/IRELAND CHARITIES & SUPPORT GROUPS

• The Adult Cerebral Palsy Movement
• Mae Murray Foundation
• Cedar Foundation 
• Scope 
• Capability Scotland 
• Disability Sport Northern Ireland
• Action CP
• Brain Injury Matters
• Enable Ireland 
• Central Remedial Clinic

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

• American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM)
• European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD)
• British Association for Community Child Health (BACCH)
• British Academy of Childhood Disability (BACD)
• Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AusACPDM)
• Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists (APCP)