People with athetoid cerebral palsy experience erratic and uncontrolled movements (athetosis) which almost always involve the whole body and are most obvious when attempting to move although can also occur at rest.
Symptoms and characteristics
The most obvious characteristic of athetoid cerebral palsy is uncontrolled or uncoordinated body movements.
People with athetoid cerebral palsy may also experience difficulties with:
- speech
- vision
- hearing
- intellectual impairment.
Epilepsy can also be associated with athetoid cerebral palsy .
Although athetoid cerebral palsy is a permanent, non progressive condition, people may experience changes in their capacity with the progression of age or if physical difficulties develop.
Workplace adjustments and solutions
The requirements for adjustments and accommodations within the workplace depend on the areas of the body affected as well as the severity of motor limitations, seizures (epilepsy), and intellectual impairment.
There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:
References
Better Health Channel 2007, Cerebral palsy—causes and implications, State Government of Victoria, Melbourne, viewed 9 March 2007, <http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Cerebral_palsy_causes_and_implications?open>.
CP Australia 2007, CP Australia, Woodville, viewed 9 March 2007, <http://www.cpaustralia.com.au/news/index.html>.
MDA Internet 2005, Reed Group Ltd, Colorado, viewed 7 May 2007, <http://www.mdainternet.com (secure site)>.
Scope 2006, Information About Cerebral Palsy, Scope, Melbourne, viewed 9 March 2007, <http://www.scopevic.org.au/info_about.html>.