Hi Tracie!!
How your son's microcephaly affects him will depend on how small his head
is.  This is where research and clinical practice haven't quite met up.
I've seen children who were diagnosed with microcephaly who really were
missing major aspects of their brain, others who just had small heads.  Have
you had your son tested for mitochodrial or metabolic disorders?
Some children who have CP with other diagnosis may have one of these
difficulties.  The meaning to you, answers and occasionally treatment.  You
just have to have a good medical center that specializes in them to help you
out.  Depends on what part of the country you are in.  On the east coast
folks go to either Emory or Columbia Universities.
Myelin protects the nerve sheaths, it allows for faster transmission of
neurological impulses, it also tends to make sure they get to their intended
target.  This can sometimes cause delayed development and processing delays.
Processing delays are just the brain needing some extra time to figure out
what it needs to do.  For example, you hand something to your son count how
long it takes him to reach for it.  I have one little guy I work with
(unrelated diagnosis to cp), you has a 5-10 sec reaction time.

Beth t the OT

-----Original Message-----
From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tracie Christianson
Sent: Monday, February 14, 2005 8:08 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Mycrocephaly & Myelin ?

Do any of your children have microcephaly as part of their diagnosis?

I am wondering what having a child with microcephaly means to you. What can
you tell me about it? I haven't done very much research on the subject. Do
you know if by children having this, is it possible that it could be linked
to any other of their ongoing issues?

I want you to know that I do understand that you are not a doctor before I
ask you this. On my son's last 2 MRI's the first one being at 7 months and
he is now 6 years old, it stated that the development of the myelin sheath
is delayed. Would this be something that anyone from the list would be
knowledgable about?

Thanks,
Tracie (Mom to Saje Cloud who is 6  years old and has CP, Epilepsy, G-J tube
fed, microcephaly, a VNS success story and the bright side of everyone's day
when he is around them)



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