Cerebral Palsy and Autism: Causes, differences, and treatment

Neurological disorders can be life-altering. And things can get even more complicated with disorders like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Cerebral Palsy (CP)

that affect children at birth or during early stages of development. 

However, let’s not rush into the disorders yet.  Let us start with one of the best therapies of the world —  hope. Both these disorders are severe as they affect the sensory and motor functions of affected individuals. But thanks to advancements in stem cell therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy the adverse effects can be controlled and mitigated, allowing people to live independent lives. 

Now, let’s take a closer look at ASD and CP. They originate in the brain, however they both manifest differently. While ASD affects the child’s social communication, language skills, and behavior, CP on the other hand hampers the functioning of the part of the brain related to motor functions of the body. 

What is cerebral palsy?

Cerebral means ‘related to brain’ and palsy means ‘weakness in body movements’. In other words, cerebral palsy can be defined as a disorder or a group of disorders that hamper muscle movement and coordination. The condition occurs due to abnormal brain development however in the majority of cases, it happens due to an injury to the part of the brain that controls body movement, coordination, and posture. while the baby is in the uterus or shortly after birth.

It is known to be one of the most common causes of motor dysfunctioning in children.  At least 4 out of 1000 kids worldwide are diagnosed with CP, according to  the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

It is pertinent to mention that in most cases, the child is born with CP. However, the symptoms might appear after months or even years later. 

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms may differ from person to person. Some with CP might face difficulty in walking or sitting, while others might face trouble holding objects. Moreover, how the condition manifests may vary depending on which part of the brain is affected, with increasing severity over time. 

The most common symptoms of CP include:  

• Delays in developing motor skills such as rolling over, sitting without help, or crawling
• Variations in muscle tone
• Delays in speech development 
• Stiff muscles and exaggerated reflexes
• Lack of muscle coordination (Ataxia)
• Tremors or involuntary movements
• Excessive drooling/ swallowing issues 
• Walking difficulties 
• Favoring one side of the body, such as reaching with one hand
• Seizures, intellectual disabilities, and blindness

Now let us understand ASD better 

It is a developmental disorder that affects an individual’s senses (touch, sight, smell), the ability to communicate leading to isolation, and overall behavior with limited and repetitive patterns. Additionally, the term ‘spectrum’ in ASD refers to the wide range of symptoms and severity.

Moreover, ASD is hard to diagnose in the earlier stages as one looks for ‘abnormal behavior’ not the absence of normal behavior. For instance in the case of toddlers, the early signs might be mistaken as ‘good behavior’ as the baby remains quiet and is more or less undemanding. 

What are the general symptoms of ASD? 

A patient of ASD will have: 

• Difficulty in communicating
• Sensitive reactions to sound/light
• Difficulty maintaining eye contact
• Unusual or extreme ways of expressing themselves 
• Resistance towards change in routine or surroundings
• Trouble paying attention
• Interest in a very limited number of things/activities

Diagnosis can be tricky when it comes to babies. The red flags mentioned below are usually dismissed to be signs of ‘good behavior’:

• Maintains little to no eye contact
• Remains apathetic  to sound/gestures
• Makes no noise for attention
• Fails to imitate facial expressions
• Shows no interest in playing with others 

Can both disorders occur simultaneously? 

Studies have pointed out that there is a possibility that children enduring CP can also be affected by Autism. Infact, research studies have shown that specific genetic factors are also responsible for both disorders, occurring at the same time. 

According to a study published in Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology journal, Autism was more prevalent in children with non-spastic cerebral palsy —  characterized  by weakened and unstable muscle tone as well as sudden, jerky movements. 

Another study published by the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Canada, pointed out that certain ‘specific genetic variants’ are responsible for both abnormal motor functions as well as skewed social communication. The study concluded that due to those genetic variants, a connection between CP and ASD cannot be ruled out. 

Are CP and ASD Treatable? 

There are therapies as well as medication that help in managing, controlling, and even mitigating the adverse effects of the disorders to an extent that the person is able undertake day-to-day activities without assistance. 

Treatment of Autism 

Stem cell therapy —  includes implanting of stem cells with regenerative qualities into the patient’s body. Stem cells regenerate to replace damaged cells and mitigate the effects of the condition. Moreover, it is a procedure which doesn't involve any surgeries or drug intake.   

Speech Therapy — includes improving the communication skills as well as bettering non-verbal skills of the patient through gestures and signs. Moreover, therapists also inculcate alternate communication skills by using pictures or other methods. 

Occupational Therapy — ensures that the patient becomes as independent as possible by working on his/her span of attention, stamina, and play skills. Also, the therapist works to improve the patient’s posture, balance, and handling of small objects.  

Treatment of Autism also includes Sensory Integration Therapy (SIT), a form of occupational therapy where the patient undergoes specific sensory sessions that help him/her respond to light, sound, touch, smell, and other inputs in an appropriate manner. 

Apart from stem cell therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy treatment of Cerebral Palsy comprises of:

Physiotherapy — focuses on contractures, a common difficulty found in people suffering from CP. The therapists work on stretching and flexibility to manage contractures, increasing motions of joints, and improving coordination. 

As mentioned earlier, hope has always been one of the best therapies for treatment of neurological conditions like ASD and CP.  So hope combined with the latest advancements in medical science, gives everyone suffering from neurological conditions a renewed shot at life!