Cerebral palsy is a life-long physical disability that affects movement, balance, and posture. It can cause an individual to experience difficulties in daily activities such as walking, talking, and self-care. The quality of life for individuals with cerebral palsy is determined by their ability to adapt to life and learn how to cope with the condition effectively.
Symptoms vary from person to person and do not worsen over time. People with cerebral palsy often believe they cannot lead an active lifestyle, but exercise levels are relative to their abilities. Both children and adults with cerebral palsy can live active and fulfilling lives by using various therapies and assistive devices.
To help children with cerebral palsy thrive and learn independence, it is essential to incorporate a healthy daily routine, including a healthy diet, physical exercise, and a calm atmosphere during bedtime. Life tips for someone with cerebral palsy include keeping their medicine cabinet stocked, using movement and massages, practicing calm practices, and maintaining a balanced lifestyle.
Adults with cerebral palsy often lead independent lives, but the extent of independence varies with each case. Balancing activity behaviors across the day, with improved physical activity, reduced sedentary time, and healthy sleep behaviors, can help improve mobility and muscle coordination. Overall, coping with cerebral palsy is crucial for a person’s quality of life and overall well-being.
📹 Cerebral palsy: ‘Should I be fixed?’ – BBC News
TV presenter and activist Paddy Smyth has cerebral palsy, a condition that affects his movement and coordination. He explores …
Can people with cerebral palsy have normal lives?
Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition caused by a single brain injury, with no cure. However, it does not worsen over time due to co-occurring factors and separate conditions. Most children diagnosed with cerebral palsy have a relatively normal life expectancy. Severe cases of cerebral palsy may require more medical care and may lead to mobility difficulties, seizures, or respiratory problems. The average lifetime costs of treating cerebral palsy are over $900, 000. These costs include doctor visits, surgeries, and the purchase of adaptive equipment. Despite the challenges, most children with cerebral palsy can expect a relatively normal life expectancy.
What are the everyday obstacles of cerebral palsy?
Cerebral palsy impacts daily activities such as walking, talking, and self-care, causing challenges in mobility, fine motor skills, and communication. Understanding these impacts helps shape tailored support and interventions, empowering individuals to overcome obstacles and lead fulfilling lives. The diagnosis process, including evaluations and consultations, can evoke emotions in families, allowing parents to prepare for potential challenges, seek appropriate therapies, and access support networks.
Acknowledging the emotional impact and gaining insights can equip families to navigate the journey ahead with resilience and informed decision-making. Life expectancy for individuals with cerebral palsy is generally similar to the general population, but quality of life varies widely and is influenced by severity, associated conditions, and access to support. Optimizing therapies, addressing medical needs, and fostering social inclusion significantly enhance the quality of life, allowing individuals with cerebral palsy to lead fulfilling and meaningful lives.
Can a person with CP live a normal life?
Mild cerebral palsy individuals have a similar life expectancy to those without the condition, and they continue to live a healthy life as they transition into adulthood. Life expectancy is calculated by the severity of a child’s condition, which can be influenced by mobility issues, intellectual disabilities, vision/hearing impairments, and other coexisting conditions. Parents may have concerns about predicting and improving their child’s life expectancy, as it is based on the average age of a particular population group when they die.
What are the lifestyle modifications for cerebral palsy?
Lifestyle changes, such as a balanced diet, regular exercise, and adequate rest, can help manage symptoms of cerebral palsy. Regular social and mental stimulation can improve communication and cognitive abilities. Children with mild to moderate forms of cerebral palsy can live independently as adults, but learning is delayed. They should receive holistic treatment under specialist supervision. Some complementary or alternative therapies for cerebral palsy include:
How do people with cerebral palsy navigate their daily lives?
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a condition that affects muscle tone, coordination, and movement, making tasks like walking, dressing, and eating more challenging. Assistive devices like wheelchairs, braces, and mobility aids are often required for these individuals. Accessible infrastructure and public spaces are crucial for their independence. The UK has made progress in improving accessibility, but more work is needed to ensure CP individuals can access all areas of society without limitations.
Communication challenges are also common, as CP affects speech and language abilities, making it difficult for individuals to express themselves verbally. Augmentative and alternative communication devices are often used to bridge this gap. Healthcare professionals and therapists work closely with CP individuals to develop effective communication strategies.
How does cerebral palsy affect quality of life?
The SPARCLE study has found that four specific impairments are linked to poorer quality of life in children with Cerebral Palsy: decreased walking ability, decreased intellectual impairment, poor moods and emotions, and speech difficulties. These findings suggest that pain plays a significant role in assessing the quality of life in children with Cerebral Palsy, and that different perspectives exist among children, parents, and professionals. The study suggests that considering parental stress in research and practice is crucial. Although focusing on children in European countries, the findings can be applied internationally.
What do people with cerebral palsy experience?
Cerebral palsy is a condition where the brain’s muscles are affected, leading to uncontrolled or unpredictable movements. It can cause mobility issues, with 1 in 3 people unable to walk, particularly those with conditions like spastic quadriplegia, intellectual disability, epilepsy, vision impairment, and inability to sit independently at 2 years of age. Communication issues can also arise, as the coordination of muscles around the mouth and tongue, essential for speech, can be affected.
Some may not be able to produce sounds, while others may struggle to control their movement. Additionally, 3 in 4 people with cerebral palsy experience pain, often due to impairments like contractures, abnormal postures, dystonia, skin breakdown, partial hip dislocation, and scoliosis. This pain can impact behavior, independence, and social relationships, potentially causing people to avoid daily tasks. Pain can often be relieved, so it is recommended to consult a medical practitioner.
Can someone with cerebral palsy live alone?
Adults with cerebral palsy (CP) can lead independent lives, with varying degrees of independence depending on their severity. Less severe CP individuals may live independently and work full-time, while more severe CP or coexisting conditions may require full-time assistance. As there is no known cure for CP, finding proper healthcare and support is crucial for improving an individual’s quality of life. Personalized guidance empowers children with CP to overcome challenges, live their best lives, and continue to thrive into adulthood.
What can people with CP not do?
Spastic cerebral palsy is a common condition characterized by stiff muscles and awkward movements. It can be classified into four forms: spastic hemiplegia/hemiparesis, spastic diplegia/diparesis, spastic quadriplegia/quadriparesis, dyskinetic cerebral palsy, ataxic cerebral palsy, and mixed types of cerebral palsy. Spastic hemiplegia affects the arm and hand on one side of the body, often causing delayed walking and tip-toe walking due to tight heel tendons. Children with spastic hemiplegia may develop scoliosis, an abnormal spine curvature, and delayed speech.
Spastic diplegia/diparesis involves muscle stiffness in the legs, affecting the arms and face but less severely affecting the arms and face. Children may require a walker or leg braces, and intelligence and language skills are usually normal. Spastic quadriplegia/quadriparesis is the most severe form, often associated with moderate-to-severe intellectual disability. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy is characterized by slow and uncontrollable writhing or jerky movements of the hands, feet, arms, or legs, often causing hyperactivity in the face and tongue muscles.
Ataxic cerebral palsy affects balance and depth perception, with children with ataxic CP often having poor coordination and difficulty with quick or precise movements. Mixed types of cerebral palsy may have a mix of stiffness and floppiness. Diagnosing cerebral palsy can be challenging for mild cases, but most children with cerebral palsy are diagnosed during their first two years of life.
Is it hard to take care of someone with cerebral palsy?
The care of individuals with cerebral palsy can be a complex undertaking, with the complexity of the care required varying depending on the severity of the condition. The condition affects motor skills, necessitating assistance with activities such as walking, using the bathroom, eating, and dressing. Cerebral palsy is not a disease; rather, it is a condition that affects the areas of the brain responsible for movement. It is of the utmost importance to gain an understanding of and provide care for individuals with cerebral palsy.
What is life like living with cerebral palsy?
Cerebral palsy (CP) can cause issues with feeding, nutrition, and digestive health due to its impact on various muscle groups and nerves, including face muscles. Common secondary conditions include oral-motor dysfunction, gastroesophageal reflux, chronic constipation, swallowing disorders, and abdominal pain. Children with these conditions are at risk of underweight or malnourished, and it is crucial for parents and caregivers to ensure they receive the necessary nutrients and proteins.
Improving nutritional health can be achieved through specialized diets and feeding techniques, focusing on nutrients, calcium, and protein to reduce the risk of developing secondary conditions like oral-motor dysfunction. It is essential for parents and caregivers to ensure their children receive the necessary nutrients and proteins to thrive.
📹 Cerebral Palsy, Animation
Cerebral palsy: types (spastic, dyskinetic, and ataxic cerebral palsy), symptoms, causes, risk factors, complication, diagnosis and …
Interesting. I’m a 50 year old man with CP, up until very recently I’ve lead a very normal life. DJ’ed for 20 years, played in bands, travelled, and had a family. I would go for long walks without thinking about it. All that changed 3 years ago when I had two bad falls, and now I’m struggling to get to the mailbox, or around the house without holding on to furniture. Not to mention the chronic pain, which is new for me. My point being, when you’re younger you don’t think about how aging with a disability is going to effect you. There was no real treatment in the 1970’s, but if there was, knowing what I know now I would certainly take any viable options open to me. Another thing this piece made me think about, is how important it is to have good parents. Neither of my parents raised me because they didn’t want to have a child with a disability, I’ve had to do it all on my own. How much easier your start in life is when you have a supportive family.
Paddy, I am 63yrs young and have CP I was able to work until I was 40. I was a nurse, I had to retire due to my body not being able to keep up any more. I also have constant pain issues, I am no longer able to walk much. I am confined to a wheelchair and still have a positive attitude. I was born at 6 months and born dead, my grandmother came out of my mother’s hospital room and took the glass dome off the table I was on and I started moving. The Dr.’s told my family that I would never work. I grew up in the 1960’s kids and people were mean I graduated and put myself through college. I got married and raised a family, and raised 2 of my grandkids. As I have gotten older there are challenges, but I have been blessed though out my life. I would not change anything.
I will do what I need to do to move and function the best I can, but also perfect I am not, nor never will be. I have learned to embrace the fact that I am neurodiverse, short statured, and hop around and move different. I do stretch and strive to stay as fit as possible, adaptive always! A CP Warrior always!
People have to learn to identify as being a person with a disability if things happen like a car crash or whatever that disables them. Being unwilling to learn to identify as being a person without a disability if you have the luxury to; after people worldwide throughout all of history and even today, dont have that opportunity feels kinda ungrateful tbh.
In this article, “fix” seems to imply eliminating the disease or reversing its effects, neither of which are possible. I didn’t hear any discussion of fixing it in the sense of slowing or stopping the progression of the disease. I don’t know much about the disease, in particular whether it continues to progress throughout one’s life. If so, then treatment could mean improving your life by not letting it get worse. Right now, you’re able to walk using crutches. What if “fixing you” meant that you could continue walking and not need a wheelchair? I applaud you for embracing your situation, but I’d hate to think that you’re so comfortable with it that you ignore how that situation might change for the worse.
If you could for example allow a kid to live normally, walk, run, climb trees I don’t see why not. Adults can decide on their own. They’re already used to the it. I do like that he said he would do it if it was guaranteed that he could walk normally. Its easier to decline it when you can walk and talk regardless. For those with “stronger” CP it may be easier. I like that its here more about side effects and no guaranteed. Thats much better to understand than hypothetically declining a magic 100% chance cure. That said fixing may be the wrong word. Language changes all the time. Once you figure out a word to use instead of fix i bet it won’t last for more than 10yrs before the new word also becomes offensive 😊😊
I think it’s a matter of having more knowledge about developmental process so that you can be prevented in the outcome you are currently living. I feel that life is very important, so it makes the most and only best rational sense to be grateful for life. That will result in happiness and you will be able to strive forwards.
I’ve heard of Botox helping small young children in remarkable ways, medical science has made exceptional ways in the last 40 years. Having Cerebral Palsy and experiencing extreme trouble with my feet in at the age of 55 years old I resorted to Botox. It helped at the time in the process I lost the small ability to at least walk about 70 feet with a walker if needed. The ability to stand for more then a it takes to climb in vehicles. Or to be able to walk enough to get on an airplane. Are a few things I miss most.
I think its up to individuals if they wanna fix it or not. In 20 years or so we will have transcranial magnetic direct stimulation which means the neuroscientists use electrodes on cerebellum to stimulate it and make it stronger (can be done for other things like aspergers in my case). But CP can be great to one of my friends has it and we are the most empathetic and kindest people alive especially to others with disabilities in scouts. 😁
I have two sons born with a genetic condition that caused both of them to have cerebral palsy. The genetic condition is called Familial Porencephaly. My husband and I have the same gene! Is very rare. I am British/German hubby Hispanic. We hit the lottery twice! Is grey matter formed in the brain at gestation. It just so happened that the grey matter is in both their left side of their brains in motor skill area (effects them like they had a stroke) and causes right side of body to have cerebral palsy. My oldest son is 33 yrs old, and is mild. He has motor skill delay in right hand forcing him to be left handed. (Both boys forced to be left handed cause right one does not work). Oldest can drive with pedal adapted to his car and sometimes the right side of body gives out on him. My youngest son who is 30, has it worse because he had a difficult birthing. He was cut off from oxygen and was almost still born. He has also right hand motor skill delay and wears leg braces on both legs. Both my boys had early intervention with physical therapy, water therapy, occupational therapy etc etc….all their young lives. Youngest son had two surgeries the first a heel cord release and second surgery with a toe release both feet and legs and hamstring switch when he was four yrs old. He walks and still does therapy and we have a spa he does water therapy in. Both my boys had Special Ed all through school and were able to attend college. Oldest has a bachelor of science degree in Computer Science, youngest has an Accounting degree and is currently working on his second degree in Computer Science as well.
I’m shocked by the stupidity of commenters that don’t seem to understand what Cerebral Palsy is and the meaning of the discussion of ‘should I be fixed’. The question is meant to provoke a thought process of what it means to be a person living with a severe disability, what the general public considers being a fixed person, including the risks and consequences you’d have to take as a caregiver and bearing those risks and consequences as the person having cerebral palsy. As Paddy highlights there is an emotional cost to it. Anything from being disappointed to loosing a part of your identity. It is not a straightforward answer. The comments do not reflect for me what this short documentary is about yet the sad part it does highlight how judgemental people and are are not shy of displaying their ignorance. To Paddy I would say thank you for raising the question. So often we forget that people with a disability are not just people that require caring for. There is this whole dimension of being a person with life questions, intelligence, directions, ambitions, needs and emotions that is entirely theirs. We don’t often get a glimpse or share thoughts on this. I would love to learn and understand more about this. Perhaps in the future you would consider a podcast. Good luck. ❤️👌
I am epileptic and people were pressuring me to get the implants, yet it’s three computers put inside your body… scary! Talked to other people who got the device and their seizures didn’t stop, if anything they were only diminished. Finally found out that the neurologists I’d been seeing weren’t really qualified, i found an epileptologist(neurologist that focuses on epilepsy) and finally after 20yrs of suffering found medication that works. So glad I didn’t get ‘fixed’ with implants.
Reading the book ”The Spark’ by Dr. John Ratey would reverse anything. This is what I believe. “”Exercise is really for the brain, not the body. It affects mood, vitality, alertness, and feelings of well-being.” – “Exercise is the single best thing you can do for your brain in terms of mood, memory, and learning.” “If you had half an hour of exercise this morning, you’re in the right frame of mind to sit still and focus on this paragraph, and your brain is far more equipped to remember it.” “Even 10 minutes of activity changes your brain.” “It turns out that moving our muscles produces proteins that travel through the bloodstream and into the brain, where they play pivotal roles in the mechanisms of our highest thought processes.” “Exercise Is Medicine,” so.” — John Ratey
I was born with diapelegic. C.P. as a child there was a series of surgeries.THANK GOD FOR MY PARENTS who made the hard decisions I did want to be fixed and as far as possible I have been l ‘ve been married and have adult children I started life in a wheelchair 10 years ago don’t fool yourself of course anyone wants to improve their health if they can
It is not you they are fixing Paddy it is the secondary conditions of CP they are trying to slow down. You have to adapt to your CP as it changes with time, never mind all that existential bollix. Think more practically. You sound like the CP version of your name sake – Golfer Padraig Harrington. Overthinking way too much, instead of just playing the next shot. In about a decade it is very likely you won’t have the luxury of saying ‘Do I need the treatment?’ It will become necessity as you have to adapt to new realities.
I was born with CP on my left side. I was able to work full time until 49. I had physically demanding jobs, but started having more problems with my good side. I am glad that I am married and have kids, and I worked hard for as long as I could or else, I would feel like a failure right now. I Thank God for all the blessings that I have had!
I was born with cp and I have the on the affects my legs and I am 12 years old and I am a attractive young girl but I am very insecure about my cp and I sometimes do find my self crying because I can’t be normal like other young girls my age now I am not saying you should be ashamed or insecure like me because there is no cure so its kind of just something you have to live with for the rest of your life and I I did wear braces for my legs and night time braces for my legs but the older I got the more the insecurity grew so I stopped wearing them and I did used to go to physical therapy but I stopped and my affected my eye sight I used to wear glasses because I had far distance problems with my eyes but yeah xxxxxx sincerely Suellen.❤❤❤❤❤
My 2 year baby is falling from the back hard wooden dinning chair while playing after he cry and sleep when he wake up we realise that right part of the body we are not moving properly then we immediately we go through the process of CT we didn’t get any result so we have done MRI as doc recommend and we found this issue let’s hope for the best we are Going through this process please recommend what we do next so our baby get a new life same 😢
44 year old with cp on my right side here. I’m lucky as far as the intensity I have. Things they don’t tell you long term. Stay physically active because your muscles and tendons tighten up over time. Sometimes you walk like you’re drunk if you sit too long or something. I had a police officer that thought I was completely drunk. I told him I had CP and he gave me a breathalyzer I passed of course, but he treated me like dirt the whole time. Another time one policeman actually had brought me to the jail because he said my lisp proved, I was drunk, even though I passed the breathalyzer. If you fall or something, you don’t realize you’re hurt and you have to do body checks. A couple times I walked around a half a day with dislocated fingers and didn’t know it. Or cuts that actually need stitches. Bed sores happen a lot too because you don’t feel like you need to turn around at night. Sleeping on my right side feels like I’m sleeping on a cloud. I get mood swings a lot too. Calm one second really angry the next. Depression sets in a lot too. Any kind of medicine you’ll have an overreaction to. Like NyQuil will feel like Codeine to me. And when people realize you have CP, they treat you like you have down syndrome. I am happy and I know I’m lucky but there are day-to-day struggles in life that someone without it will never understand.