Lauren’s Blog

1.Summary:

• Static Encephalopathy is where a child’s brain is not working normally and it gets in the way of their life.
• This diagnosis can improve but may stay with the child for the rest of his or her life.
• How mentally impaired someone is depends on how much damage there is to their brain.
• Static Encephalopathy is different on everyone it affects.
• If the part of the brain that controls muscle is affected, everyday things like walking will be altered.
• If the speech part of the brain is harmed, then the way the child talks will be hard to understand.
• The child may be called mentally retarded if the learning part of the brain is damaged.
• When many parts of the brain are affected, many problems occur.
• Seizures are a possible side effect.
• Damage hearing or seeing could cause blindness or deafness.
• Static Encephalopathy and Cerebral Palsy are alike but they differ in that Cerebral Palsy is a type of Static Encephalopathy.
• If there is no problem with muscle movements then you cannot be diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.
• Delayed movements are not cerebral Palsy, they must be abnormal.
• Doctors put together information from a child’s medical history and living conditions to diagnose Static Encephalopathy.
• Depending on what the doctor discovers determines what test he will give to the child.
• EEG is a device that measures electrical activity in the brain.
• A CT and MRI are used to look at the brain.
• Doctors use blood and urine tests to check for possible chemicals that may affect the brain.
• Genetic testing is used when the symptoms obviously run in the family.
• Hearing and vision tests are used to prevent worse damage.
• Slow development can be discovered and helped muscle and nerve tests.
• Serious head injuries and related traumas are common causes.
• Most commonly doctors still cant tell if someone has static encephalopathy.
• Medicines can often control Static Encephalopathy.
• Teachers can help children learn to overcome this.
• Special equipment and surgery are other alternatives.
• Children with this still need regular medical care, dental care, and nutritional care.
• Counseling aids both the children and their families involved with this.
• Having a child with this does not necessarily mean they are fully handicapped, sometimes they just have minor disabilities.
• Concerning handicaps, many live each day as a productive individual.
• There are many different types of cases with different types of people.

2.Yes, this could be used in the Ashley X story.  There is a lot of very useful information that could aid someone who knows very little about this subject.  For example, who may have static encephalopathy and what their symptoms might be.  Also, there are some alternatives if they are diagnoised and some treatments.