What caused my child's cerebral palsy?

There are a number of causes of cerebral palsy. However, it is important to understand that for many children, even after a range of tests and careful reviews, the cause of the cerebral palsy will not be clearly identified. It is entirely understandable that many families will continue to worry about the cause, the why and how this has happened to their child. Parents may experience complex feelings of self blame, however, usually parents could have done nothing to prevent this from occurring. It can be helpful to talk to other families who share the same issues and concerns.

How do I know my child has cerebral palsy?

In the early months of life it is sometimes difficult to determine if a child has cerebral palsy. The condition may only be identified when a child experiences delays with the movement and postural development needed for sitting and standing.

What other difficulties might my child have?

Hearing

All children should have a hearing assessment to check for hearing problems.

Vision

Children with cerebral palsy may have special eye care needs that should be examined and monitored by an Opthalmologist (Eye Specialist).

Speech

Because children with cerebral palsy can have problems with movement of the jaw, lips, tongue, facial muscles and breathing control, these children may have difficulty talking. An alternative communication device may be of assistance eg. Communication Board or Voice Output Device.

Epilepsy

This is not uncommon in children with cerebral palsy. Appropriate medication can be prescribed by a general practitioner that will help to control seizures.

Intellectual disabilities and learning difficulties

No one person can predict the full potential of a child with cerebral palsy. Children can vary widely in their ability to learn.

Perceptual difficulties

Perception is the interpretation of information from the senses eg. eye-hand coordination, spatial awareness, shape recognition, and moving around objects. Perceptual disorders can impact on the child's organisational abilities and living skills.

Language difficulties

Children with cerebral palsy may experience a number of difficulties including understanding ideas, sentence construction and interpreting what is said to them. This may affect later learning.

Nutrition

Children with cerebral palsy may experience a range of difficulties when eating and drinking that may impact on their nutritional needs.

Will my child get better?

At the present time, there is no known cure for cerebral palsy and related disabilities. However, all children learn, develop and grow according to their own unique potential as will your child. The various forms of treatment will often bring about some improvement and maximise the child's abilities. Future advances in the study and research of cerebral palsy and related disabilities will lead to further understanding of this condition and possible new approaches.

Will my child's condition get worse as she/he gets older?

Once the initial damage to the brain has occurred early in life, for most individuals there is no further increase in this damage. However, sometimes parents are concerned their child's condition is deteriorating. This maybe due to a number of indications such as those outlined below. These are all reasons for why a child's condition may appear to be deteriorating when in fact the original damage to the brain has not altered.

• Sometimes it is harder and frustrating for a child with cerebral palsy and related disabilities to manage more complex tasks such as independently eating a meal and learning to dress for school. Managing these tasks may take the child longer to do.
• As a child grows, the muscles often become tighter especially during key growth spurts when the child's bones are growing more quickly than the muscles. The child may then experience difficulties with mobility.
• The progress of a child with cerebral palsy and related disabilities may temporarily be delayed due to their contracting any one of a number of childhood illnesses and infections.
• A child with cerebral palsy and related disabilities may experience a great deal of emotional stress during important life transition times such as starting school, learning a new skill, or reacting to the arrival of a new baby in the household.

Does my child to have a normal life expectancy?

As most children with cerebral palsy and related disabilities are as healthy as any other child, they can expect to live the normal lifespan.

Will any other children I have develop cerebral palsy and related disabilities?

While this is an unlikely occurrence, pregnancy and birth is at the best of times, a complicated process. No-one can provide you with an absolute guarantee there will not be similar difficulties experienced.

However, it is important to know that most parents of children with cerebral palsy and related disabilities do go on to have other children without any complications. Your doctor/obstetrician should be able to discuss this matter with you and provide information relevant to your circumstances.

Will my child be able to attend kindergarten, daycare or preschool?

Most children with cerebral palsy and related disabilities will have the opportunity to attend the local community program of choice.

Will my child attend regular school?

Many children with cerebral palsy and related disabilities can expect to attend regular school. It is both the policy and philosophical commitment of Education Queensland that children with disabilities have the same right to an education as other children.

About Terminology

Many misunderstandings arise when people with disabilities are described using inappropriate words and labels which place emphasis on the person's disability and not on them as a person.

It is not appropriate to describe people with cerebral palsy as handicapped, spastic or suffering from cerebral palsy.

In describing a person with cerebral palsy, always put the person first and separate the description of disabilities from the individual eg: "Person with cerebral palsy" not "cerebral palsy sufferer"

Today it is recognised that people with disabilities have a wide range of abilities.