cerebral palsy
Noun: A condition resulting from permanent, non-progressive brain damage present at or occurring near birth, characterized by a loss or deficiency of motor control, often accompanied by involuntary muscle spasms and impaired coordination of movement.
This term is used exclusively as a medical noun to describe a specific group of permanent movement and posture disorders. It is a non-countable noun when referring to the condition in general. * Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability in childhood. * The child was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 18 months. * Advances in therapy have improved the quality of life for many people living with cerebral palsy.
- Clinical Context: The term is often used with modifiers to specify the type based on the movement disorder (e.g., spastic cerebral palsy, dyskinetic cerebral palsy) or the affected body parts (e.g., hemiplegic cerebral palsy affecting one side of the body).
- Spastic cerebral palsy is characterized by stiff muscles and exaggerated reflexes.
- CP: A common initialism for cerebral palsy.
- The organization provides support for families affected by CP.
- Palsy (Noun): A general term for paralysis or uncontrolled movement of a body part. "Cerebral" specifies the origin in the brain.
- Bell's palsy is a temporary facial paralysis, distinct from cerebral palsy.
- Motor disorder: A broader term for conditions affecting movement control.
- Neuromotor impairment: A technical term highlighting the neurological origin of the movement disability.
Note: There are no direct, perfect synonyms for this specific medical diagnosis. The terms above describe the category but do not equate to the precise condition.
- a loss or deficiency of motor control with involuntary spasms caused by permanent brain damage present at birth