Hyrdrocephalus

Hyrdrocephalus

Understanding Hydrocephalus in Youth

Your brain contains billions of cells and is the control centre of your mind and body. It is protected by your skull, cushiony membranes, and an essential liquid called cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF. We all need CSF. It delivers important nutrients and chemicals from the blood to the brain, removes waste products from the brain, and protects this complex, essential organ. CSF is continuously produced inside four ventricles, or chambers, in the brain. Normally, CSF flows freely from one ventricle to the next before it exits the brain. However, when the flow of CSF is interrupted or blocked, or too much CSF accumulates, this causes the ventricles to swell. That puts pressure on the brain and can cause serious damage. This excess accumulation of CSF is called hydrocephalus. Because it affects the brain, hydrocephalus can cause a wide range of symptoms ranging from difficulty breathing, poor muscle coordination and mobility challenges to problems with vision, fatigue, headaches, seizures, incontinence and hormonal imbalances. Challenges with learning, social skills, memory and problem solving are among the most common complications of hydrocephalus. Individuals with the condition may require modifications to the way they are taught, especially when it comes to learning new things at school or work.   Information taken from http://mybrainwaves.ca/hydrocephalus-in-youth/#understanding-hydrocephalus-in-youth