For the past five years, Keith W. Pillich has been working as an industrial hygiene specialist at Valdo Engineering. When studying at the University of Buffalo, Keith Walter Pillich received his OSHA safety trainer license. In his free time, he enjoys volunteering to help disabled vets and cerebral palsy (CP) victims in Western New York.
CP results from damage that happens while the brain develops before birth. It's a group of disorders that affect muscle tonicity and movement. In severe cases, a diagnosis occurs soon after birth. One of the most common forms of CP, spastic diplegia, is diagnosed at about 18 months. Those with milder symptoms may only receive a diagnosis when the brain is fully developed, from three to five years of age.
Screening and diagnosing CP at an early age has many benefits for children and their families. The CDC recommends developmental monitoring and screening and developmental and medical evaluations. Children who have higher risks of developmental problems due to low birth weight or preterm birth qualify for developmental monitoring, also called surveillance. Doctors track the child’s growth and development over time. They interview the parents and watch the child during an examination.
Developmental screenings involve interviews with parents and a short test to see if the child presents specific developmental delays during surveillance. If the results of the screening text are concerning, the doctor will likely make referrals to early intervention or early childhood services and developmental and medical evaluations. During these evaluations, the doctor examines the child’s reflexes, muscle tone, motor skills, and posture. They check their hearing, vision, and speech.
CP results from damage that happens while the brain develops before birth. It's a group of disorders that affect muscle tonicity and movement. In severe cases, a diagnosis occurs soon after birth. One of the most common forms of CP, spastic diplegia, is diagnosed at about 18 months. Those with milder symptoms may only receive a diagnosis when the brain is fully developed, from three to five years of age.
Screening and diagnosing CP at an early age has many benefits for children and their families. The CDC recommends developmental monitoring and screening and developmental and medical evaluations. Children who have higher risks of developmental problems due to low birth weight or preterm birth qualify for developmental monitoring, also called surveillance. Doctors track the child’s growth and development over time. They interview the parents and watch the child during an examination.
Developmental screenings involve interviews with parents and a short test to see if the child presents specific developmental delays during surveillance. If the results of the screening text are concerning, the doctor will likely make referrals to early intervention or early childhood services and developmental and medical evaluations. During these evaluations, the doctor examines the child’s reflexes, muscle tone, motor skills, and posture. They check their hearing, vision, and speech.
