Muscular Dystrophy
What Is Muscular Dystrophy?
Muscular Dystrophy is actually multiple diseases that create weakened muscles. This disease begins early and gradually grows stronger through age and development into adulthood. For a group of diseases such as this, it’s absolutely vital to be alerted of it at a young age and begin treatment early so as to prevent its growth and build ways of diminishing its effects.
The most severe form of muscular dystrophy, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, mainly inflicts boys before they turn 5. For this form of muscular dystrophy, most boys are forced to use wheelchairs in their early teenage years. However, there are ways to best support a child with muscular dystrophy and aid them through their growth stages.
What Are The Symptoms of Muscular Dystrophy?
There are many type of muscular dystrophy that determine the signs and symptoms that one may exhibit in adolescence. Most prominently, it’s obvious in physical activity, in which muscles are inhibited when performing tasks. This may result in a child:
- learning to walk later in development
- inability to walk straight
- have a tough time ascending stairs
- tumble often
- barely jump
- walk awkwardly
- have a curved spine
Why Does Muscular Dystrophy Occur?
Muscular Dystrophy is genetic. It is a mutation that is passed on from at least one of the parents. This is something that cannot be avoided and sometimes a recessive trait that isn’t noticed in the parent who passes it along.
How to Treat Muscular Dystrophy
The first step in aiding a child is bringing him/her to a doctor. After noticing symptoms of this disorder, schedule an appoint with your child’s pediatrician. A muscle biopsy may be needed in order to find specifically what is wrong with your child’s muscles. A doctor will take a minuscule sample of your child’s muscle in order to evaluate how it operates.
By utilizing a physical therapist and/or occupational therapist, a child can grow with the disease and learn how to best cope with it now and in the future. With a medical team at hand, it’s crucial to communicate often to keep progress status updates. This way, the status and growth of your child’s muscles can be monitored and developed in the best way possible. This way, a child can survive in the environment to his/her optimal potential.
The child’s school system should always be alerted because class is where a child will spend a lot of social, cognitive, and physical time.
In the U.S. including Bergen County, New Jersey, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees a free and appropriate public education for every child with a disability, including Muscular Dystrophy.
Contact us to learn how we can help your child or schedule a complimentary evaluation of your child’s needs and free facility tour.