Overview Of Treatments For Periventricular Leukomalacia

Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is a brain injury in infants. The damage occurs around the ventricles. Specifically, it happens in the surrounding white matter! White matter, of course, transmits messages from the nerves to the brain. It also delivers messages from the brain to the nerves! Low birth weight and premature birth are significant risk factors. Many babies with this injury develop cerebral palsy! Signs of this are vision problems, motor issues, and tight muscles. Developmental delays are another one.

Symptoms dictate a patient's treatment for periventricular leukomalacia. Many patients need regular occupational therapy and physical therapy for PVL. They also benefit from medications! This includes medication for seizures. Pain medication for inflammation is also standard. Of course, parents need to review the common treatment options first.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is an effective treatment! It is excellent for handling a patient's motor issues. Children with periventricular leukomalacia often have developmental delays. This makes it harder for them to reach certain milestones! Typically, they reach them later than average. Examples of challenging milestones include holding up their head at four months old and sitting at six months old. It is also hard for patients to start walking at around one year old!

Delayed development often means that a child is not exploring different movements. Physical therapists will evaluate each patient. This helps them determine where the child needs help! Once they do this, physical therapists create a plan for the child's developmental skills. They will include how parents can help at home! Children with this condition learn how to move their muscles in physical therapy. The therapists will also inform parents of how much practice their child needs to meet their milestones!

Uncover more treatments for this condition now.

Speech Therapy

Speech therapy is another effective treatment. It even helps when patients develop cerebral palsy! Of course, speech therapy assists with meeting speech milestones. Many patients with both conditions have speech issues. They fall into three categories: spastic, ataxic, and athetoid! An example of a speech issue in the first category is words that sound slurred. An example of the second is trouble controlling face, neck, and throat muscles! Finally, one athetoid issue is monotone speech with abnormal pauses and accelerations.

Speech therapists help affected children in many ways. They strengthen muscles that impact their speech and improve their motor skills. Of course, they also boost a child's understanding of language! Children who also struggle with swallowing issues benefit from speech therapy. Ultimately, the goal is to improve how they communicate their feelings and thoughts. This form of therapy encourages learning and improves a patient's independence. It boosts social, cognitive, and emotional development as well! Finally, children also experience higher problem-solving skills.

Learn about more ways to treat this condition now.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy is another effective way to treat this condition. Of course, the therapist's role shifts based on a patient's symptoms. However, the goal of occupational therapy is to help children develop the skills they need for independence. Most therapists focus on boosting a child's ability to learn and play. They often teach them tasks that need fine motor skills as well. Two examples are eating and brushing their teeth! Some therapists also assist patients who find processing sensory information difficult. This is beyond boosting cognitive function.

Children who receive this treatment increase their independence. They also see an improved quality of life! Many affected patients are also more confident. They even experience a sense of accomplishment. They also find it easier to develop other skills. This treatment reduces the work on parents. The reason is the child's increased ability to perform daily tasks!

Discover additional treatment methods now.

Assistive Devices

Children with this condition often need assistive devices. These devices help them manage their symptoms. In fact, they are often necessary for children to be independent! Adaptive and assistive devices are incredibly helpful. They help affected children have a more engaging social life. They also boost their academic performance! Children who use this treatment feel more confident and find it easier to express their emotions. They are also included in more activities!

Many patients use mobility devices. Examples include wheelchairs, braces, and walkers! Electric wheelchairs help when they have issues using their hands. Many adaptive devices assist with communication! Children can share ideas with pictures on communication boards. Some patients struggle with the muscles needed to form words. They benefit from speech-generating devices! Children who find it challenging to type or hold a pen have an option too. They need typing and writing devices!

Reveal another treatment option now.

Medication

Unfortunately, no medication treats the condition itself. Instead, medications relieve some of the symptoms! Of course, children will need different medications based on their specific symptoms. Anticholinergics help with uncontrolled spasms and tremors. They treat spasticity as well! Anticonvulsants also help relieve these symptoms. They even reduce seizures for affected patients.

Children with this injury often deal with low mood. Some of them have trouble regulating their emotions. Doctors prescribe antidepressants for this! Many patients also experience tight and inflamed muscles when they develop cerebral palsy. This often causes pain! Thankfully, anti-inflammatories treat this quite effectively. One final example is a stool softener. This medication helps patients who have digestive issues!