Hydrocephalus & Spina Bifida SSM

June is Hydrocephalus & Spina Bifida Awareness Month! Hydrocephalus & Spina Bifida are complex conditions and unless you or someone you know has it, it’s much unknown. Hydrocephalus is a build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, causing increased pressure inside the skull which can be caused by a variety of medical problems. Anyone can develop Hydrocephalus and may occur at any time during a person's life. Hydrocephalus can be a serious condition, and must be treated. If it is not treated it can cause permanent brain damage or in severe cases, death. There is NO cure for hydrocephalus! Spina bifida is a neural tube birth defect (NTD) which occurs within the first four weeks of pregnancy and affects the development of the spinal cord. This results in varying degrees of paralysis of the lower limbs and permanent damage to the spinal cord and nervous system. And nerve damage is permanent. There is no cure! The two conditions are often closely related, with 85 per cent of babies born with spina bifida also having hydrocephalus, according to the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Ontario. Most people with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus will have some difficulty in one or more of these areas: learning disabilities; memory loss; motor skills; pressure sensitivity; visual impairment; seizures; constipation; incontinence; hormonal imbalance. Treatment for the variety of effects of spina bifida and hydrocephalus can also include medication, physiotherapy and the use of assistive devices. Physical and social barriers, medical complications, learning disabilities and financial burdens are some of the challenges that individuals with spina bifida and hydrocephalus and their families must face each and every day. We believe we can achieve our goal to increase knowledge and understanding of spina bifida and hydrocephalus. Public education and awareness ensures appropriate diagnosis, more effective treatments, and promotes a community that is supportive and appreciates the challenges faced by people living with these lifelong neurological conditions.

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