0-6 months
Newborns, infants

Cerebral palsy is a term used to describe a group of physical disorders that affect a person's movement and posture. Cerebral palsy can result from damage to the developing brain. Currently, there are no tests to detect cerebral palsy in a child while still in the womb. However, there are certain events that can happen during pregnancy, childbirth or after the baby is born that can increase the risk of cerebral palsy. You can read more about this topic here.

If your child has any of these risk factors, specialized testing and evaluation can be done to see if he or she is at risk or to make a diagnosis such as cerebral palsy (MPD).

"At risk" means that it is uncertain whether the child has cerebral palsy, but can still receive support designed for children with MPD.

How can we help you?

• Conducting a comprehensive diagnosis including:Prehtl and HINE diagnosis, assessment of psychomotor development.
• If necessary, to indicate further diagnostic steps and support in the process of finding solutions.
• Ensure early intervention and implement goal-directed therapy as soon as possible
• Constant monitoring of the child (MPD Registry) from the first moments of his life
• Create a comprehensive treatment plan, including in collaboration with other specialists
• Functional therapy (selection of appropriate methods of working with a child depending on
  depending on his/her needs)
• Assistance in reaching the next developmental stages
• Learning proper infant care and positioning for the best development of baby skills and functions (lifting, changing, positioning, feeding)
• Resolve any doubts about the proper development of the child
• Choosing and matching the equipment needed

As early as the first months of life, the development of hand and fine motor functions begins to play a very important role in a child's total development. Assessing the child during spontaneous play allows for a detailed analysis of the quality of movement, eye-hand coordination and upper limb ranges of motion, while also examining superficial sensation. Working on trunk stabilization and encouraging the use of supports during play promote natural motor development.

Parents can use a variety of play options at home that not only engage the child, but also support his developmental progress. During therapy, specialized assistive tools such as kinesio taping and vibration massagers can be used to enhance the effectiveness of therapy. An important part of the process is assessing the need for orthotic supplies that can support a child's normal motor development from the first moments of life.

Collaboration with doctors, physiotherapists, speech therapists and other specialists is key to providing comprehensive care for the child. Establishing therapy goals in cooperation with the parent and matching the best therapy method to the child's current needs are the cornerstones of successful developmental therapy.

How can we help you?

• Assessment of the child during spontaneous play - qualitative assessment of movement, eye-hand coordination, examination of upper limb ranges of motion and examination of superficial sensation.
• Work on trunk stability and encourage the child to use supports during play.
• Outlining the various play options that parents can use in their therapy time to support their toddler's progress.
• Supportive tools such as kinesio taping and vibration massager can be used during therapy.
• Assessing the need for orthotic supplies.
• Work with doctors, physiotherapists, speech therapists and other specialists to provide comprehensive care for the child.
• Setting therapy goals with the parent.
• Matching the best therapy method to the child's current needs.

Assessment of basic visual functions and parameters, such as facial response and functional visual field, is possible in the first months of a child's life. This makes it possible to accurately monitor progress in visual perception.

Stimulating a child's visual functioning involves the individual selection of toys and how they are presented, taking into account the child's age and current visual abilities. Adapting the environment is key to effectively supporting a toddler's visual development.

Guidance for other therapists on visual stimulation during other therapies is invaluable. Integrating visual stimulation into various forms of therapy, such as physiotherapy or speech therapy, supports the child's holistic development. By working together with specialists, it is possible to effectively support the development of visual perception skills and achieve progress in the child's functioning.

How can we help you?

• Functional visual assessment - evaluation of basic visual functions and parameters, among others: facial response, functional visual field.
• Learning how to stimulate the child's visual functioning - individual selection of toys, the way they are presented and adaptation to the environment adequate to the child's age and visual functioning.
• Tips for the child's other therapists regarding visual stimulation during other therapies.

Supporting parents and the entire family in dealing with the developmental challenges of preterm infants, newborns and toddlers, as well as facing disability-related diagnoses, have a significant impact on providing appropriate care for the child. Educating parents about developmental challenges and providing practical guidance to support their child's development during this period play a key role at this stage.

The coordination and organization of psychological and pedagogical therapy serves to provide comprehensive support, tailored to the individual needs of the toddler. Systematic assessment of psychomotor development makes it possible to track progress and adjust therapeutic strategies as needed.

Analysis of previous therapeutic measures and their possible modification are key to optimizing therapy effects.

The selection of appropriate tools and toys that are adapted to the child's age, needs and abilities supports sensory and motor development.

How can we help you?

• Supporting parents and families in coping with the challenges of the developmental age.
• Educating parents and providing them with knowledge about child development at this age and support options.
• Coordination and organization of psychological and pedagogical therapy.
• Assessment of the child's psychomotor development.
• Evaluation of therapeutic interventions carried out to date and their possible modification.
• AAC - building communication systems based on high- and low-tech tools, diagnosis of communication competence and needs and opportunities in this area.
• Selecting an alternative way to access equipment and toys using a variety of switches/adapters.
• Work on the organization of play and the selection of toys appropriate to the child's age, needs and abilities.

When breast- or bottle-feeding, it is crucial to support parents in choosing the right feeding position that ensures both baby's comfort and promotes proper sucking and swallowing.

Educating parents about the first stages of communication skills development helps them understand what behaviors and reactions of the child are natural at this age.

Evaluation of the speech apparatus, its structure and functioning at this stage of a child's development allows early identification of problems and implementation of an appropriate support program.

By working with a gastroenterologist and nutritionist, it is possible to provide proper support for parents when nasogastric tube feeding is required.

For children who cannot eat orally, it is crucial to provide adequate support and educate parents on probe feeding techniques to ensure healthy child development.

How can we help you?

• Support during breast- or bottle-feeding: selecting feeding positions.
• Education on the first framework for developing communication skills.
• Assessment of oral motility and structure.
• Assessment of speech development and its early stages.
• In cooperation with a gastroenterologist and nutritionist, nutrition support.
• Support for children fed by nasogastric tube if they cannot eat orally.

How can we help you?

We are happy to help you select and fit the right orthopedic/rehabilitation equipment to support your child's mobility and function from the first moments of life. The equipment we are able to provide you with includes:

• Wheelchairs: positioning, special, stabilizing, walking,
• car seats,
• orthopedic seats,
• Upper and lower limb orthoses,
• tutovia orthoses,
• corsets,
• pelvic orthoses,
• multifunctional devices,
• rehabilitation accessories and instruments: wedges, mattresses, balls, rollers, tapes, electrostimulators, massagers.

When parents first learn about cerebral palsy, they may feel many different emotions and thoughts, which is why we at Paley European Institute Neurocenter offer:

How can we help you?

• Psychological support in the postpartum period,
• Assistance in accepting and coping with the diagnosis,
• Support in the grieving process after the loss of an expected healthy child,
• Assistance in building bonds and relationships with the child,
• Information and advice on cerebral palsy, child development and the way forward.