CPD - Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy Awareness

Having an awareness of dyskinetic cerebral palsy (DCP) can be beneficial for many people. This is because it will help them understand that certain medical conditions have the effect that makes patients different from normal people. With this in mind, they will know how to effectively handle situations involving people with DCP. By this, you can take this course as a learning opportunity for new information.

The CPD - Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy Awareness programme covers all important things about individuals with this special condition. This is because they need support and will be more demanding than other normal people. With this in mind, participants who take this course will be more likely to understand because people with DCP experience evident symptoms that can alert individuals who aren’t familiar with the condition.

What is dyskinetic cerebral palsy?

Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (DCP) is an uncontrollable movement caused by injury in the basal ganglia of the brain. DCP is the second most common type of cerebral palsy in the world. Their movements occur but are not intended for their purpose. The affected area is in the basal ganglia or thalamus, which is in charge of controlling body movement and coordination.

Additionally, DCP has three characteristics. First is having twisting and repetitive movements. The name of that condition is dystonia. Second, it has other traits, such as slow and stormy movements, known as athetosis. Lastly, there are also unstable movements, such as irregular dance, known as chorea. For that reason, taking this course allows people to spot these different symptoms.

Furthermore, there are treatment options for them to improve their lives. Physical therapy is commonly used to manage its symptoms. Moreover, some oral medications may also be needed to reduce tremors caused by disruptions in the brain. In that case, having these treatments continuously can help patients minimise the risks of having an episode.

Course Synopsis

This course equips participants with the knowledge of dyskinetic cerebral palsy signs to better understand its conditions. It also covers what to look for in patients to ensure their well-being. Therefore, this training is suitable for healthcare workers and caregivers who are professionals who manage patients with this condition. Here are the goals we aim for within this course:

1. Making people aware of dyskinetic cerebral palsy (DCP)
2. Understand the cause and its symptoms.
3. Learn recovery techniques for patients.
4. Support patients' emotional well-being.
5. Applying advanced patient-centred care plan

Syllabus

The syllabus of this course equips participants to have a deep understanding of the definition of dyskinetic cerebral palsy. It includes the causes and risks of why that condition happens. Furthermore, the speaker covers the proper assessment, along with the signs to look for. The details will follow thoroughly on this course with these topics you may be interested in:

• Assessment and tools for DCP's patients
• Medical procedures
• Physical therapy and mobility aids
• Emotional and behavioural challenges
• Moral issues or decisions in DCP care
• Future research to improve the treatment

Enrolment Criteria

This CPD course is suitable for healthcare workers. It includes therapists, caretakers, and special education backgrounds. No prior experience with DCP is needed, but basic knowledge is beneficial. Participants just need to engage in the discussions and have an interest in this topic. This is because participants can expect to have great lecturers, thanks to the team networking.

Dyskinetic cerebral palsy functional impact scale

The dyskinetic cerebral palsy may have various impacts for each patient. This is because there aren’t still no proper tests to check the exact damage a DCP brings. However, healthcare practitioners often use these existing methods to learn the capability of a patient's body’s function. Here are the things they mainly look at:

1. Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS): Check for movement difficulty in children with CP. Starting from Level 1, when children can walk without limitations, to Level 5, with severe physical impairment.
2. Manual Ability Classification System (MACS): Caretakers need to test the hand function. Level 1 is when they can handle objects easily to Level 5 with severe difficulty handling objects.
3. Communication Function Classification System (CFCS): Look over the speech ability of someone with DCP. Level 1 indicates they can be bubbly and understood. However, Level 5 indicates that they are hard to communicate and mainly need support.
4. Eating and Drinking Ability Classification System (EDACS): Assess over the function of swallowing and oral motor. Level 1 indicates they can eat and drink safely, while Level 5 means they can’t handle foot intake and require tube feeding.

What causes dyskinetic cerebral palsy?

Dyskinetic cerebral palsy is caused by an injury in the human brain. As we have mentioned, the damage location is in the basal ganglia or thalamus, which is in charge of controlling body movement and coordination. It may occur during foetal development or because of accidents. Those disruptions lead to uncontrolled movements that can make them struggle in their daily activity.

In addition, it disrupts the nerves between the brain and muscles, making it harder to move as it is. For that reason, the patients have difficulty maintaining stable posture and movements since the damaged spot in the brain is in charge of the movements in the human body. However, the seriousness of symptoms varies depending on patients’ conditions. Some patients only need medication, while the rest may need to have some therapy to improve their state.

Another cause of DCP is stroke in a newborn baby. Premature babies are prone to brain rupture, damaging their control centre. Therefore, early interventions and medical advancements are essential to improve their condition. Even though there is no cure yet for DCP, the patients can still have a chance to have better lives.

Dyskinetic cerebral palsy vs spastic

Both conditions between dyskinetic CP and spastic CP are affecting the movements. However, their symptoms are different because of the location of the damage. In short, DCP is known for uncontrollable movements, while spastic results in muscle stiffness. For that reason, these conditions may look the same but they are different.

Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy occur because of the damage in the basal ganglia, while spastic occurs because of the damage in the motor cortex. DCP leads to uncontrolled movements, while spastic leads to muscle tone and stiffness. Both conditions result from brain injuries, but the impact is different because of the different parts of damage in the brain. Here are the impacts:

Dyskinetic CP

• Difficulty with fine motor tasks, such as writing and holding objects
• Trouble with speech and facial expression
• Unpredictable movements that lead to disruption of daily activities

Spastic CP

• Difficult to coordinate movements
• Muscle weakness and stiffness lead to an imbalance.
• The stiffness affects mobility but more predictable movements.

Understanding dyskinetic cerebral palsy conditions with CCM

Understanding dyskinetic cerebral palsy with the College of Contract Management can help you become more aware of this special condition. The CCM team has collaborative synergy with experts in this field to ensure the credibility of the learning session. For that reason, participants will have a professional certificate upon completing this course to boost their careers.

Furthermore, this course is online with flexibility in mind. Participants can expect an engaging learning session with interactive learning even though it is online. With that in mind, they can enjoy their daily lives and take this course afterwards whenever they are ready. By taking this course, participants can develop their skills and raise their awareness about this topic. Look no further and join us now!

The details of the CPD - Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy Awareness programme will be shared shortly. The CCM team is now finalising the material and determining the lecturer's availability. It is to ensure everyone can access high-quality sessions. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the CCM team via email or live chat.