Neurological Disorders Associated with Feeding Tube Dependency (FTD)
Neurological disorders are conditions that affect the nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. There are hundreds of different neurological disorders, each with its own set of symptoms, causes, and treatments.
Information About Specific Neurological Disorders Associated with Feeding Tube Dependency
Stroke
Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States.
​
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts (or ruptures). When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it and brain cells die.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, occur when the brain experiences sudden trauma or damage, typically from blows to the head or violent jolts. TBI can result from both closed injuries—in which the head experiences blunt force trauma but the skull remains intact—and open injuries that pierce the skull and damage brain tissue directly.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a group of conditions that affect movement and posture. It's caused by damage that occurs to the developing brain, most often before birth.
​
Symptoms appear during infancy or preschool years and vary from very mild to serious. Children with cerebral palsy may have exaggerated reflexes. The arms, legs and trunk may appear floppy. Or they may have stiff muscles, known as spasticity. Symptoms also can include irregular posture, movements that can't be controlled, a walk that's not steady or some combination of these.
​
Cerebral palsy may make it hard to swallow. It also can cause eye muscle imbalance, in which the eyes don't focus on the same object. People with the condition might have reduced range of motion in their joints due to muscle stiffness.