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Ataxia and Disorders of Balance in Children with Cerebral Palsy

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Cerebral Palsy

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Abstract

In healthy individuals, static and dynamic balance is maintained by a seamless interaction of three senses – vision, proprioception, and the vestibular system. The vestibular system is the first sensory system to develop in humans and is fully developed at birth. The remaining matures over a 15-year period. Ataxia or the lack of balance can be associated with a variety of neurologic disorders – including cerebral palsy. Difficulties with general balance in children with cerebral palsy may include ataxia but frequently are multifactorial. Visual impairments, lack of muscle coordination, sensory integration deficits, and vestibular deficits should all be considered when evaluating balance deficits in children with cerebral palsy. This chapter will review ataxia, the vestibular system, the assessment of gross motor function in cerebral palsy, common vestibulopathies, and important considerations for the evaluation and treatment of balance disorders in children with cerebral palsy.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Robert O’Reilly

  2. Otolaryngology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Erin Field

Authors
  1. Robert O’Reilly
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  2. Erin Field
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert O’Reilly .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Alfred I. duPont Institute, Wilmington, DE, USA

    Freeman Miller

  2. Cerebral Palsy Program, AI DuPont Hospital for Children , Wilmington, DE, USA

    Steven Bachrach

  3. AI DuPont Hospital for Children , Wilmington, DE, USA

    Nancy Lennon

  4. Drexel University, PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA

    Margaret O'Neil

Section Editor information

  1. AI DuPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA

    Freeman Miller

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© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

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O’Reilly, R., Field, E. (2019). Ataxia and Disorders of Balance in Children with Cerebral Palsy. In: Miller, F., Bachrach, S., Lennon, N., O'Neil, M. (eds) Cerebral Palsy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50592-3_48-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50592-3_48-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-50592-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-50592-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

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