Cerebral Palsy – 8 commonly asked questions

The term Cerebral Palsy describes a group of conditions caused by an injury to a baby’s developing brain, occurring before, during or shortly after delivery.

As a neurological injury, it typically affects a person’s movement, coordination and posture. This means they are likely to have problems with their mobility and motor control. In addition, they may experience learning difficulties or developmental delays, as well as one or more of a number of other problems including difficulty with swallowing and communication.

The effects of Cerebral Palsy can include:

• Delay in reaching developmental milestones such as sitting up or walking

• Stiff or floppy limbs

• Weakness in the arms and/or legs

• Fidgety, jerky, clumsy or random movements

• Difficulty with walking

• Difficulty with swallowing

• Problems with vision

• Difficulty with communication

Which effects are present and the severity of those that are present will depend on the nature of the brain injury suffered. Some children with Cerebral Palsy are less affected whereas others will be severely disabled and require around-the-clock care.

Different types of Cerebral Palsy include:

• Spastic Hemiplegia

• Spastic Diplegia

• Ataxic Cerebral Palsy

• Athetoid (Dyskinetic) Cerebral Palsy

• Spastic Quadriplegia

For more information on the types of Cerebral Palsy, we recommend reading more on the NHS website.

Unfortunately, Cerebral Palsy is a lifelong condition, and there is currently no known cure. However, several treatments are available that can help reduce the symptoms associated with the condition, which we will explore later in this article.

As someone with Cerebral Palsy’s needs can change over time, the care plan devised for your child by their healthcare professionals must be regularly reviewed and updated.

The range of healthcare professionals who may be involved in formulating a care plan and treating your child include:

• Paediatricians

• Nurses

• Carers

• Physiotherapists

• Dietitians

• Speech and language therapists

• Occupational therapists

• Psychologists

• Educational psychologists

• Social workers

Treatments that can help people manage their symptoms of Cerebral Palsy and live as comfortable, independent lives as possible include:

• Physiotherapy: This will help to encourage movement, improve muscle strength, and prevent muscles from shortening.

• Speech and language therapy: Providing exercises to practise speech or teach alternative forms of communication, like sign language or using pictures. It can also help with swallowing.

• Occupational therapy: Advising on ways to help your child approach everyday tasks with complex movements, like going to the toilet or getting dressed, to help improve their independence and self-esteem.

• Managing feeding problems: Teaching swallowing techniques and advising on dietary changes to help those with difficulty swallowing food.

• Medicines: A range of medicines can be prescribed to help someone with Cerebral Palsy deal with muscle stiffness, sleeping difficulties, excessive drooling, epilepsy, constipation, pain and other issues they may experience.

• Surgery: Operations may be performed to restore movement to parts of the body, make walking easier, repair hip dislocations and correct instances of scoliosis (curvature of the spine).

If your child’s Cerebral Palsy was due to the negligence of one or more healthcare professionals, the compensation you receive from a successful birth injury claim can help to cover the costs of these treatments throughout their life.

We find this is often the most pressing question for parents after their child is diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. Parents will often worry about who will care for their child as they themselves age.

It is undoubtedly a time of uncertainty, but the fact is that everyone’s experience of Cerebral Palsy is different. Some will be relatively unhindered by the condition, while others will be entirely dependent on the support of others.

Here are some statistics that offer a general idea of what you could expect following a diagnosis:

• One in three children will not be able to walk

• One in four children will be unable to feed or dress themselves

• One in four children has a severe learning disability

• One in ten children will have no useful vision, while one in eleven is blind

• One in fifty children will be deaf

• One in four children will have epileptic seizures

As a result, it is possible that adaptations will be required to the home to allow for the access for a wheelchair, hoist system, carers room, therapy room and storage of items such as mobility aids, therapy mats and feed. If the home cannot be suitably adapted, then a move to another property which can be suitably adapted may be necessary.

The child may require help with some or all of daily activities and care. They may attend a school which is able to focus on their needs and may need someone to make decisions for their health and benefit throughout their lifetime.

If the effects of their Cerebral Palsy are significant, it is likely that the child will need to receive care for the remainder of their life. This means that parents, guardians and other loved ones often worry about what will happen when they are unable to provide this themselves.

This makes the need for a clear care plan, backed by trusted healthcare professionals and the right equipment, essential in ensuring that the child is looked after and supported into adulthood and beyond.

It should not be overlooked that Cerebral Palsy not only affects the child, but their parents, siblings, other family members and friends. These people will also have their lives altered dramatically in order to provide the care and support that the child with Cerebral Palsy needs.

If your child has brothers or sisters, it is important to balance care and attention between them, and help them understand their sibling’s condition:

• Be honest when they ask questions

• Teach them the correct vocabulary and terms associated with Cerebral Palsy

• Get their schools involved to support their own wellbeing