Sexuality Teaching Sexual Orientation - 1844 Words

Sexuality has become a touchy subject due to the major increase in gays, lesbians, and transgender. The considerable amount of young students who are claiming these titles are an even more sensitive subject which has grasped society. When it comes to the youth of the nation every one becomes concerns. The way students are being taught is already in question, it brings more concern to society when people want students to start learning about sexuality in schools as well. I will review four main issues on teaching sexual orientation in schools. First, there are those people who feel that teaching a child about sexuality or orientation is a matter for the parents. These parents discuss with their children the aspects of sexuality in hope to†¦show more content†¦Third, there are those who feel by teaching about sexual orientation the amount of bullying and harassment in school, and homelessness and suicide outside of school will decrease. Concerned educators have developed ways to prove teaching sexuality is worth a try. Believers have formed groups in schools such as the Gay Straight Alliances, to help protect LGBT students in hope that protection would soon follow. Forth, there are those who believe that teaching sexuality is not a problem. The problem who will teach it, what will they teach, and when will it be taught? These people come from all groups: educators, parents, christians, and political leaders. Sexual orientation is basically the attraction of one person to another in terms of gender. When deciding whether or not one is straight, gay, or lesbian it is difficult to know who you can trust. Parents feel that teaching about sexual orientation in schools takes away a mother’s and father s natural rights. When a person’s rights are violated it should not be allowed. Every parent dreads the day they have to have The Talk, with their pre-teen. At the same time by the end of the conversation they know what has been explained is in the best interest of the child. Parents must be open with children and discuss sexual options from the beginning. They must be able to explain all choices with the child (Gordon). Because most adolescents do not inform their parents of how they feel or what they are doing when it comes

The person that inspires me the most free essay sample

I consider myself lucky to have someone that determined and diligent in my life. Someone so goal-oriented that it would discourage anyone that would try to thwart his or her plans. She has always been a beacon of resilience in my life and I am eternally grateful for that. She is my care-giver and my rock. This woman has made me value the concept of reality and the world for what it is. My mother has always been my symbol for hard work. It may seem a bit cliched but I stand my ground when I say my mother is the very birth of my inspiration. My mother was actually the starting point to my fascination in obstetrics/gynaecology. How? My mother had to wait approximately 10 years before she could give birth to her first child, me. I decided that from the very moment that I found out how long it took for me to be born that I would help various women that had the same problem like my mother. We will write a custom essay sample on The person that inspires me the most or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page When I told her what I wanted to do, she looked at me with so much pride that I knew that I would do anything to help that dream come true for the both of us. She continues to give me so much support for that one career that it’s all I can think about. My mother is, in my books, the very definition of hard work. From the very moment that my father retired, my mother took the role of the official breadwinner. From that moment, our mother-daughter relationship faltered a little, but I understood. She had to go to work every weekday, at some point in time, she had to go to school to get another degree for a promotion that she was aiming for. She is also a public figure in my church and occasional church trips and anniversaries had to be planned that required her attention. Even with all this, she has to pay my school fees, pay for our regular vacations and the money to be spent during those vacations. She may not have enough time to spend with me but she always shows me what it means to be a woman and how I am meant to cater for the family that I am bound to happen. She holds a lot of expectations of me and hopes for a lot of things regarding me. She says it is because she told God what she wanted in a child and she knows that what she asked for, God would provide. My mother feels the need to be a mother to everyone. She has a generous soul. A soul so generous that she puts people’s needs before hers. Truth be told, I would have never discovered my love for medicine if it hadn’t been for her. I would have never understood what life could be like. She showed me what it meant to be in another world where no one cared where you came from. Yes, she was a bit skeptical when I told her that I wanted to go to a school that took over 10 hours to get to but she knew that I wasn’t going to have fun and ruin my chance to make her proud of me. No, she knew it was to better myself and show that she raised a remarkable individual that would help lives everywhere. I once told her, â€Å"Mum, you should stop putting so much pressure on me.† She answered, â€Å"You are my daughter. I know what you are capable of and what you are not capable of. I’m not putting pressure on you. I’m merely informing you of what I know you can do.† After that day, I never complained when she ‘pressured’ me. I would merely look at it as a source of encouragement. She’s not the most original person to use as the basis for my essay but to me, she is the true meaning of an independent great woman and I am thankful that I got someone so influential in my life.

Aristotelian Tragedy Macbeth free essay sample

Aristotelian Tragedy: Macbeth Aristotle is known widely for developing his ideas on tragedy. He recorded these ideas in his Poetics in which he comments on the plot, purpose, and effect that a true tragedy must have. The structure of these tragedies has been an example for many writers including Shakespeare himself. Many of Shakespeare’s plays follow Aristotelian ideas of tragedy, for instance Macbeth does a decent job in shadowing Aristotle’s model. Aristotle describes one of the most important elements of a tragedy to be a tragic hero. The tragic hero however must present certain qualities such as nobility and virtue. In the play Macbeth, Macbeth is a perfect example of a tragic hero. Macbeth begins the play coming home from battle, he is said to have fought with great courage and King Duncan himself awards him the title of the thane of Cawdor in reward for his bravery. The qualities make Macbeth a tragic hero as he possesses not only a noble title, but also the assets of a great warrior and hero. We will write a custom essay sample on Aristotelian Tragedy Macbeth or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page However, Aristotle emphasizes that if the tragic hero was as perfect as he seems than the audience would not be able to identify with him and this would not be considered a tragedy. Macbeth shows us his humanity very early in the play when he learns that Malcolm, Duncan’s son, will be the heir to the throne of Scotland. In response, Macbeth acknowledges that he himself should be awarded the crown and will not rest until royalty is his. Macbeth is an ambitious character, which is a quality that many humans can identify with. This ambitiousness is known as Macbeth’s tragic flaw. This leads to Aristotle’s next component of a tragedy, the tragic flaw. The hero’s tragic flaw must lead to the downfall of the character; his demise can be caused by no one other than himself. Macbeth’s ambitious personality leads him to become caught up in attaining power for himself. Macbeth’s ruthless behavior causes him to commit murder to Duncan in order to gain kingship. Even after his wish comes true, he continues to sacrifice the lives of others, including his close friend Banquo, to assure that he never loses his throne. However, Macbeth does not go unpunished as he suffers countless dreams and illusions that drive him to insanity. The loss of his wife also brings Macbeth to his final denouement. In the end, Macbeth is killed by Macduff; because of his arrogance he believed he was invincible even after being told his fate. Macbeth reaches his end through the same way he lived his life, through murder and deception. Many argue over the fairness of Macbeth’s life, but the goal of a tragedy in Aristotle’s view point is to strike fear and pity in the audience through harsh punishment upon the hero in extreme ways. Finally, Aristotle claims that in order for a tragedy to be effective, the fear and pity must be released from the audience through catharsis. First the tragic hero must gain some knowledge from his tragic life. Macbeth shows this self-realization in his ‘yellow leaf’ soliloquy when he expresses remorse for his actions. Also, in the end he knows he must fight until the end whether his fate is death. At this point the audience is cleansed of the emotions of the plot and the tragedy is finished. Macbeth is a primary example of a typical Aristotelian tragedy. It follows the structure necessary from the tragic hero, to his downfall and ultimately to the catharsis necessary for an original Greek drama. The aspects of this play are a perfect example of the tragedies of that era.

Bipolar Disorder

The topic I chose for my internet assignment is Bipolar Disorder. I chose this disorder because I find it to be very interesting and I also know someone who has been diagnosed with it. >From my research I learned many things about Bipolar Disorder. It affects around 1% of the population and it fits into the category of affective disorders. People experience the disorder in many different ways. Some experience "full blown mania" while others react in a more subtle way. Usually there are periods of depression between the mania, but not always. The cause of the disorder has still not been determined, but 50% of people who suffer from it are known to have a family history of manic depression. There is not yet a cure for Bipolar Disorder although, it is treatable with medications and therapy. Online Dictionary of Mental Health. (2000) The Mercurial Mind, [online]. Available:http://home.att.net/~mercurial-mind/ [2000, January 27] The first web site I visited was The Mercurial Mind: Living with Bipolar Disorder. This site answered questions such as what does bipolar disorder feel like, how do mental health professionals determine whether or not you have bipolar disorder and how does bipolar disorder affect the lives of the people who have it. The information is laid out in a clear and accurate manner. I found the information to be useful and learned a lot from the site. The author of the site states at the bottom of the second page that he is not a health care professional. He was diagnosed with the disease when he was 39 years old, so although he may be a useful source I am not sure how credible he is. His site has been online since January 2000 and he has already had 35,929 hits, which I think is pretty good. There is a place on the site to sign the guest book and also send in an e-mail if you have any more questions. This site has won numerous awards from internet critics. Sister Leslie. (2000) The Bipolar Planet...

The Congo King Leopold's Ghost Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Congo King Leopold's Ghost - Essay Example Through the Berlin Conference, King Leopold obtained international recognition for the colony. The king established a system of forced labor that kept the people of the Congo basin in a slavery condition (Hochschild 120). There are many reasons why Adam Hochschild chose to entitle his narrative of imperialism in the Congo ‘King Leopolds Ghost’. Firstly, King Leopold II was the central figure during the colonization of the Congo. The king employed every tactic to ensure that the Congo was part of Belgian colonial powers. It is hard to explore the history of the Congo basin without mentioning King Leopold II. He was the main authority that instructed his army to commit most of the atrocities experienced in the country. King Leopold II was the face of colonial power in the Congo. Being the king, King Leopold II gave direct orders that affected the country. To make this book relevant to the real situation in the Congo, the author had to mention the king in the title in order to link him and the Congo. A ghost refers to the spirit of a dead person that may affect the living people. King Leopold died many years ago but the impact of his orders and actions are still in historical books and in the memory of the Congo people. During the Belgian colonial rule of the Congo people, the colonial power committed so many atrocities. Many people died, while others were left homeless. The impact of this tyrannical rule is being felt to date. Many families lost their property and loved words. The colonial power took most of the Congo natural resources to its mother country. This implies that the Congo people lost different resources that could have helped their country in terms of development. The ghost of King Leopold II will hound the people of Congo for a very long time. King Leopold II ruled in a manner that affected the unity of the Congo people. He ruled by divide and rule

Internet Use in Real Estate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Internet Use in Real Estate - Essay Example Using internet in real estate marketing; for the years industry analyst had predicted a growth in internet uses and fundamental changes in the real estate services, though the number of the internet users continue to grow, changes in the real estate services have not been that fundamental. The increase in the use of internet, specifically the World Wide Web (www) in the past ten years or so has been exceptional and has impacted almost every sector in developed nations. Among the most significant aspect in individuals' lives, is their housing condition. In many western countries this is normally a residential property which is owned by the person occupying it. Thus owner-occupiers have a high interest in the way residential markets operate. Which the trend in the market changing and many real estate firms adopting internet as a marketing tool, for selling, advertising and listing, this paper will seek to find out how the use of world wide web and e-commence has impacted the real estate industry and how a company can adopt the use of internet in its operations (Baen and Guttery, 1997) To address this subject, the study paper will carry on, along the following field: internet will have to be defined for reasons of theoretical clarity; e-commerce, definition and essentials, and functions will be underscored; reasons for real estate using e-commerce will be discuses, and how to create an effective website for real estate companies will be discussed at length; and lastly "a way forward" in terms of a conclusion will be provided How the characteristics of e-commerce make it a new force in business operations What is e-commerce E-commerce is the trade of services and products by means of computer networks or the internet. Chan, Lee, & Dillon, (2001) defines e-commerce as selling and buying of goods or services using electronic media it follows the basic principles of traditional commerce but in this case, buyers and sellers swap commodities through the internet for money. In e-commerce sellers and consumers of products transact business over networked computerized processes. This has offered maximum convenience to buyers and sellers alike. (Kroll, 2000) Buyers in this form of business get the opportunity to compare prices, quality and other factors before deciding to undertake the transaction. The buyer gets advantages of saving on physical transport costs and he/she can a product even from far place on a click of the mouse. Importance of e-commerce as a strategic component of real estates business E-commerce serves as a vital strategic tool for companies. When e-commerce is well used in real estate compa

Caring for People with Additional Needs Essay Example for Free

Caring for People with Additional Needs Essay Introduction In my AO1 ‘caring for people with additional needs’ portfolio I am going to provide and clearly display in great detail information and understanding of three causes of additional needs. I will do this by researching a range of sources to get in dept information. Then I will provide an explanation with great content of the effects on people who are in need of these services due to their additional needs. Finally, I intend to record in depth and show understanding of each stage of the care management process and evaluate how it is used to access, plan, implement, monitor and review individual care plans. Definition of disability â€Å"A physical or mental impairment, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a persons ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.† (http://www.equalityni.org) What is a physical disability? People with physical disabilities, also known as disabled people or physically disabled people, have a physical impairment which has a substantial and long term effect on their ability to carry our day-to-day activities. Someone with a moderate physical disability would have mobility problems, e.g. unable to manage stairs, and need aids or assistance to walk. Someone with a severe physical disability would be unable to walk and dependent on a carer for mobility. Depending on their individual needs, disabled people may require an accessible home, with or without aids and adaptations. Occupational therapists will assess an individual persons needs for these, and refer the person on to the appropriate agency to have adaptations carried out. Care Repair Services help disabled owner occupiers and private tenants to have adaptations carried out. (http://www.firststopcareadvice.org.uk) What is a sensory disability? A sensory disability is when one of your senses; sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste or spatial awareness, is no longer normal. For example, if you wear glasses you have a slight impairment. If you find it hard to hear then you have a hearing impairment. You don’t have to have completely lost a sense to be sensory impaired. (http://www.staffordshirecares.info) What is a Learning disability? A learning disability affects the way a person learns new things in any area of life, not just at school. Find out how a learning disability can affect someone, and who can offer support. It affects the way they understand information and how they communicate. This means they can have difficulty: †¢ Understanding new or complex information †¢ Learning new skills, and †¢ Coping independently â€Å"In practical terms,† says Lesley Campbell from the learning disability charity Mencap, â€Å"a learning disability means that it’s harder for your child to learn, understand and communicate than it is for other children.† A learning disability is not the same as learning difficulty or mental illness. â€Å"People get confused if they start using the term ‘learning difficulty’. In education this means things like dyslexia, which is not a learning disability,† says Campbell. â€Å"Our definition of learning disabilities focuses on people who have difficulty learning across more than one area of their life. It’s not just to do with reading or writing.† (http://www.nhs.uk) The three conditions I have chosen to focus on are Down’s syndrome that is caused by a chromosomal disorder, cerebral palsy that is caused by damage before and after birth and diabetes that is caused by a disease and medical condition. Firstly I am going to research Downs’s syndrome, which is caused by a chromosomal disorder. Down’s syndrome is a genetic disorder that was named after John Langdon Down, the doctor who first recognised it as a distinct condition in 1866.Down’s syndrome affects a babys normal physical development and causes moderate to severe learning difficulties. It is a lifelong condition that develops when a baby is still in the womb (uterus). Children who are born with Down’s syndrome also have a higher chance of developing other conditions, some of which are life threatening. (http://www.nhs.uk) Down’s syndrome (DS), also called Trisomy 21, is a condition in which extra genetic material causes delays in the way a child develops, both mentally and physically. The physical features and medical problems associated with Down’s syndrome can vary widely from child to child. While some children with Down’s syndrome need a lot of medical attention, others lead healthy lives. Though Down’s syndrome cant be prevented, it can be detected before a child is born. The health problems that may go along with Down’s syndrome can be treated, and many resources are available to help children and their families who are living with the condition. (http://kidshealth.org) Downs syndrome is a genetic disorder that occurs in approximately 1 of 800 live births. It is uncommon in the UK, for example, from 2007 to 2008, 1,843 cases of Down’s syndrome were diagnosed during pregnancy, and 743 babies were born with the condition. Down’s syndrome affects about 1 in every 1,000 live births. Down’s syndrome affects all ethnic groups equally. Boys are slightly more likely (around 15%) to be born with Down’s syndrome than girls. (http://www.nhs.uk) The likelihood of having a baby born with Downs syndrome increases with the mothers age: What are the symptoms? There are estimated to be over 100 characteristics of Down’s syndrome. Common characteristics of Down syndrome can include: †¢ A flat facial profile †¢ An upward slant to the eye †¢ A short neck †¢ Abnormally shaped ears †¢ White spots on the iris of the eye (called Brushfield spots) †¢ A single, deep transverse crease on the palm of the hand †¢ Smaller than average size †¢ Exaggerated space between the first and second toe †¢ Poor muscle tone (called hypotonia) †¢ Joint looseness †¢ Broad feet with short toes †¢ Learning disabilities. (http://down-syndrome.emedtv.com) The diagnosis Antenatal screening is a way of assessing whether the unborn baby could develop, or has developed, an abnormality during the pregnancy. Antenatal screening cannot diagnose conditions such as Down’s syndrome, but it can determine the likelihood of the baby developing the syndrome. If the risk of Down’s syndrome (or any other condition) is shown to be high, further testing can be arranged to confirm whether or not the baby has the condition. The test that is used for Down’s syndrome is a combined blood test and an ultrasound scan, which is known as the ‘combined test’. During a blood test, a sample of your blood will be taken and tested to check the levels of certain proteins and hormones. If the blood contains abnormal levels of these substances, one may have an increased risk of having a baby with Down’s syndrome. (http://www.nhs.uk) The treatment Down’s syndrome is not a condition that can be cured. However, there are treatments and therapies for the physical, medical and cognitive problems associated with Down syndrome. †¢ Medications can be used to treat certain conditions that occur in people with Down’s syndrome. For example, if a person with Down syndrome has a seizure disorder, they would benefit from taking anti-seizure medications. †¢ The baby’s pediatrician will be the main person managing the infant’s health issues. Most pediatricians have experience dealing with the common medical issues seen in children with Down’s syndrome. †¢ Children with Down syndrome are almost always referred to early intervention programs shortly after birth. Early intervention is a program of therapies, exercises and activities designed to specifically help children with Down syndrome or other disabilities. †¢ Physical therapy focuses on motor development. Since most children with Down’s syndrome have hypotonia or low muscle tone, the goal of physical therapy is to teach the children with Down’s syndrome to move their bodies in appropriate ways, and to improve their muscle tone. †¢ Speech therapy is a very important treatment for children with Down’s syndrome. Because children with Down’s syndrome often have small mouths and slightly enlarged tongues, they can have articulation problems. (http://downsyndrome.about.com) Theres no cure, but treatment of any accompanying health problems and support for learning difficulties allows many people with the syndrome to lead relatively normal and semi-independent lives. Others, however, need full-time care. Many people with the condition live well into adulthood, with an average life expectancy of around 60 years. Physiotherapy, speech therapy and special educational programmes have an important role to play, while specific medical conditions associated with the syndrome are treated as appropriate.(http://www.bbc.co.uk) What are the short term and long-term effects on someone with downs syndrome physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially? Long term effects- physically Common Down’s syndrome physical effects can include thyroid problems, hearing problems, congenital heart disease, eye problems, joint and muscle problems, Seizure, bone, Leukaemia and other cancers, Immune system problems. (http://down-syndrome.emedtv.com) Children with Down syndrome have a widely recognised characteristic appearance. Their head may be smaller than normal and abnormally shaped. Other prominent characteristics of Down syndrome are: a flattened nose, protruding tongue, upward slanting eyes, short hands and fingers, and a single crease in the palm. (http://www.mamashealth.com) Short term effects- physically Children with Down syndrome have decreased resistance to infections and are more prone to dental disease. Some people with Down’s syndrome may have to wear glasses or eye patches. (http://www.health.state.mn.us) Long term effects- intellectually Down’s syndrome affects a childs ability to learn in different ways, but most have mild to moderate intellectual impairment. Children with Down’s syndrome can and do learn, and are capable of developing skills throughout their lives. They simply reach goals at a different pace. There is often a misconception that individuals with Down’s syndrome have a â€Å"static† or predetermined ability to learn. This simply is not true. It is now known that individuals with Down’s syndrome develop over the course of their lifetime and should be treated accordingly. The learning potential of an individual with Down’s syndrome can be maximised through early intervention, good education, higher expectations and encouragement. (http://downsyndrome.about.com) Some may not be able to cope up with complex thinking that is required in the study of certain subjects. Some may achieve the complex thought process much later. (http://www.buzzle.com) Short term effects-intellectually As almost all children with Down’s syndrome have some degree of intellectual disability, we expect them to have more difficulty developing speech than normal children do. If the child with Down’s syndrome does not have a hearing loss we expect the child’s ability to develop speech to be somewhat dependent on the level of intellectual ability. Therefore, if the child has only a mild intellectual disability (and no hearing loss) he or she usually develops a great deal of speech and can have a simple conversation with family or friends. If the child has a very severe degree of intellectual disability we expect the Down syndrome child to have a great deal of difficulty developing spoken language, and we may use signs and/or pictures (augmentative communication) to help us communicate with that child. (http://www.sch.edu.au) Long term effects-emotionally Around 1 in 5 people with Down’s syndrome will develop a psychological or behavioural condition. Children: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) a behavioural condition that is characterised by a short attention span and impulsiveness Autistic spectrum disorder a developmental disorder than can cause problems with language, behaviour and social interaction Teenagers and adults: Depression a condition that causes persistent feelings of extreme sadness Obsessive compulsive disorder a health condition that is usually associated with both obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviour. (http://www.nhs.uk) Short term effects – emotionally Because of the communication problems discussed above, people with Down’s syndrome may have difficulty talking about things that make them sad or angry. Major life changes such as loss or separation may prompt decreases in appropriate behaviour at school or work. (http://www.ds-health.com) Long term effects – socially They are recognisably inarticulate in their language and communication skills. Their emotional and intellectual growth is often retarded. Children with Down’s syndrome lack in social abilities. (http://www.buzzle.com) Short term effects – socially Socially people with Down’s syndrome are affected, they may feel that it is difficult to mix with people independently, although further into their lives they may develop more confidence to be able to socialise more easily. That’s not to say that people with Down’s syndrome are shy or unsociable, but just may have less confidence in certain years of their lives. Some people with Down’s syndrome may have to be supervised because of their condition, leaving them less outgoing and feeling uncomfortable having an adult watching over them. My second cause of additional need that i now intend to discuss is cerebral palsy Cerebral palsy is a general term covering a number of neurological conditions that affect a childs movement and coordination. Neurological conditions affect the brain and nervous system. Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the brain, which normally occurs before, during or soon after birth. Known possible causes of cerebral palsy include: †¢ Infection in early pregnancy †¢ A difficult or premature birth †¢ Bleeding in the baby’s brain †¢ Abnormal brain development in the baby (http://www.nhs.uk) At some point very early in life, either while a baby is still growing in the womb, during birth or shortly after, something happens to interfere with the normal development of the brain or to injure the brain tissues. This abnormal development or injury disrupts the nerve signals between the brain and the muscles, leading to problems with movement, posture and coordination as the child grows up. This is called cerebral palsy. While some people are severely affected, others have only minor disruption, depending on which parts of the brain are not functioning properly. It’s estimated that as many as 1 in every 400 children may have cerebral palsy, which means nearly 2,000 babies, from all social backgrounds and ethnic groups, are diagnosed every year. (http://www.bbc.co.uk) About 1 in 500 babies born in the UK have cerebral palsy. The number of cases per year (the incidence) has not changed much over the period of 50 years or so. The health and care of mothers have improved in this time and some causes of cerebral palsy have decreased. However, more babies are being born prematurely and surviving. A proportion of these will have cerebral palsy. This (together with the cause in most cases not being known) is probably why the number of cases has not changed much over the period of 50 years or so. (http://www.patient.co.uk) What are the symptoms? Cerebral palsy is often classified into different types depending on the type of symptoms, which in turn probably reflect which parts of the brain are not working as they should. These include: †¢ Spastic cerebral palsy (about 70 per cent of all cases) some of the muscles in the body are tight, stiff and weak, drawing the limbs in and making control of movement difficult. †¢ Athetoid (dyskinetic) cerebral palsy (10 per cent of cases) control of muscles is disrupted by spontaneous and unwanted irregular writhing movements. These may be the result of muscles changing very rapidly from being loose and floppy to very tight and tense. The muscles used for speech may also be affected, interfering with communication. Control of posture is also disrupted. †¢ Ataxic cerebral palsy problems include difficulty with balance, shaky movements of hands or feet, and difficulty with speech. †¢ Mixed cerebral palsy a combination of two or more of the above. In coordination of the muscles of the mouth may cause feeding problems such as slow feeding, gagging and vomiting. There may be delayed motor milestones, such as crawling and walking, weakness or paralysis of the l imbs, an abnormal gait and slowness in developing speech and social skills. As many as one in three children and adolescents with cerebral palsy also has epilepsy (or seizures). Other common problems include: †¢ Difficulty with walking, writing, eating, talking, dressing †¢ Problems with balance and coordination †¢ Difficulty controlling and maintaining posture (they may need help to sit upright) †¢ Visual difficulties †¢ Hearing problems (http://www.bbc.co.uk) The symptoms of cerebral palsy normally become apparent during the first three years of your childs life. Your child may be slower in achieving important developmental goals, such as learning to crawl, walk or speak. Children with cerebral palsy also tend to have problems with their muscle tone (the unconscious ability to contract or relax muscles as needed). Your child may have: †¢ Hypertonia: increased muscle tone, which can make them appear stiff or rigid †¢ Hypotonia: decreased muscle tone, which makes them appear floppy (http://www.nhs.uk) The diagnosis The paediatrician will ask about a childs history and their pattern of development. They will also study a childs reflexes, posture, motor skills and muscle tone. Depending on the childs age, they may also be referred to an educational psychologist so the childs intellectual development can be assessed. Further tests may be recommended to rule out other conditions, which cause similar symptoms to cerebral palsy, such as a tumour or muscular dystrophy (a genetic condition affecting the development of the muscles). In some cases, further testing will also be able to confirm a diagnosis of cerebral palsy. This is because the condition can cause changes to the structure of the brain, which can be detected by the tests. Tests a child may require include: †¢ Blood tests †¢ Cranial ultrasound, which uses sound waves to build up a picture of the childs brain tissue †¢ MRI scan, which uses radio and magnetic waves to study the brain in more detail †¢ CT scan, which uses a series of X-rays that are then assembled by a computer to create a detailed 3-D model of a childs brain While a confident diagnosis of cerebral palsy can usually be made when s child is two or three years old, the type and severity of a childs cerebral palsy may not be determined until they reach four or five years of age. (http://www.nhs.uk) Treatment Theres no cure for cerebral palsy. However, there are plenty of treatments and therapies that can reduce the impact of the condition by easing symptoms such as spasticity, improving communication skills and finding other ways to do things. Physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy can all play an important part. Children with cerebral palsy do best when they get special help from an early age. Because the brain changes a lot during the first few years of life, it can be difficult to assess the extent of cerebral palsy at first, but most experts suggest babies should be first assessed at about 9 to 12 months. Many children with cerebral palsy benefit from an approach known as conductive education, which helps them to overcome movement problems and gain some control through special education and rehabilitation. Adults can get a lot from it too. Speech and language therapy helps with speech development and also with eating, drinking, and swallowing. Surgery is sometimes needed to correct any deformities that develop as a result of abnormal muscle development or function. Medication can reduce muscle hyperactivity and spasticity, but physiotherapy is the bedrock of cerebral palsy management and can helps with posture and movement. It also tries to prevent progression of disability. Occupational therapy helps children overcome difficulties performing everyday tasks, encouraging them to lead independent lives. With help, most people with cerebral palsy are able to live much the same sort of lives as everyone else. They may have to work a bit harder to overcome practical problems, but most things are possible. (http://www.bbc.co.uk)