| ral palsy can’t be cured, but treatment will | | | | parts of the skeletal system. An orthopedist is |
| often improve a child's capabilities. Many children | | | | often brought in to diagnose and treat muscle |
| go on to enjoy near-normal adult lives if their | | | | problems associated with cerebral palsy. |
| disabilities are properly managed. In general, the | | | | A physical therapist, who designs and puts into |
| earlier treatment begins, the better chance | | | | practice special exercise programs to improve |
| children have of overcoming developmental | | | | strength and functional mobility. |
| disabilities or learning new ways to accomplish the | | | | An occupational therapist, who teaches the skills |
| tasks that challenge them. | | | | necessary for day-to-day living, school, and work. |
| There is no standard therapy that works for | | | | A speech and language pathologist, who specializes |
| every individual with cerebral palsy. Once the | | | | in diagnosing and treating disabilities relating to |
| diagnosis is made, and the type of cerebral palsy | | | | difficulties with swallowing and communication. |
| is determined, a team of health care professionals | | | | A social worker, who helps individuals and their |
| will work with a child and his or her parents to | | | | families locate community assistance and |
| identify specific impairments and needs, and then | | | | education programs. |
| develop an appropriate plan to tackle the core | | | | A psychologist, who helps individuals and their |
| disabilities that affect the child’s quality of | | | | families cope with the special stresses and |
| life. | | | | demands of cerebral palsy. In some cases, |
| A comprehensive management plan will pull in a | | | | psychologists may also oversee therapy to |
| combination of health professionals with expertise | | | | modify unhelpful or destructive behaviors. |
| in the following: | | | | An educator, who may play an especially |
| - physical therapy to improve walking and gait, | | | | important role when mental retardation or learning |
| stretch spastic muscles, and prevent deformities; | | | | disabilities present a challenge to education. |
| - occupational therapy to develop compensating | | | | Regardless of age or the types of therapy that |
| tactics for everyday activities such as dressing, | | | | are used, treatment doesn’t end when an |
| going to school, and participating in day-to-day | | | | individual with cerebral palsy leaves the treatment |
| activities; | | | | center. Most of the work is done at home. |
| - speech therapy to address swallowing disorders, | | | | Members of the treatment team often act as |
| speech impediments, and other obstacles to | | | | coaches, giving parents and children techniques |
| communication; | | | | and strategies to practice at home. Studies have |
| - counseling and behavioral therapy to address | | | | shown that family support and personal |
| emotional and psychological needs and help children | | | | determination are two of the most important |
| cope emotionally with their disabilities; | | | | factors in helping individuals with cerebral palsy |
| - drugs to control seizures, relax muscle spasms, | | | | reach their long-term goals. |
| and alleviate pain; | | | | While mastering specific skills is an important focus |
| - surgery to correct anatomical abnormalities or | | | | of treatment on a day-to-day basis, the ultimate |
| release tight muscles; | | | | goal is to help children grow into adulthood with as |
| - braces and other orthotic devices to | | | | much independence as possible. |
| compensate for muscle imbalance, improve | | | | As a child with cerebral palsy grows older, the |
| posture and walking, and increase independent | | | | need for therapy and the kinds of therapies |
| mobility; | | | | required, as well as support services, will likely |
| - mechanical aids such as wheelchairs and rolling | | | | change. Counseling for emotional and psychological |
| walkers for individuals who are not independently | | | | challenges may be needed at any age, but is |
| mobile; and | | | | often most critical during adolescence. Depending |
| - communication aids such as computers, voice | | | | on their physical and intellectual abilities, adults may |
| synthesizers, or symbol boards to allow severely | | | | need help finding attendants to care for them, a |
| impaired individuals to communicate with others. | | | | place to live, a job, and a way to get to their |
| Doctors use tests and evaluation scales to | | | | place of employment. |
| determine a child’s level of disability, and | | | | Addressing the needs of parents and caregivers is |
| then make decisions about the types of | | | | also an important component of the treatment |
| treatments and the best timing and strategy for | | | | plan. The well-being of an individual with cerebral |
| interventions. Early intervention programs typically | | | | palsy depends upon the strength and well-being of |
| provide all the required therapies within a single | | | | his or her family. For parents to accept a |
| treatment center. Centers also focus on | | | | child’s disabilities and come to grips with |
| parents’ needs, often offering support | | | | the extent of their caregiving responsibilities will |
| groups, babysitting services, and respite care. | | | | take time and support from health care |
| The members of the treatment team for a child | | | | professionals. Family-centered programs in |
| with cerebral palsy will most likely include the | | | | hospitals and clinics and community-based |
| following: | | | | organizations usually work together with families |
| A physician, such as a pediatrician, pediatric | | | | to help them make well-informed decisions about |
| neurologist, or pediatric physiatrist, who is trained | | | | the services they need. They also coordinate |
| to help developmentally disabled children. This | | | | services to get the most out of treatment. |
| doctor, who often acts as the leader of the | | | | A good program will encourage the open |
| treatment team, integrates the professional | | | | exchange of information, offer respectful and |
| advice of all team members into a comprehensive | | | | supportive care, encourage partnerships between |
| treatment plan, makes sure the plan is | | | | parents and the health care professionals they |
| implemented properly, and follows the | | | | work with, and acknowledge that although medical |
| child’s progress over a number of years. | | | | specialists may be the experts, it’s |
| An orthopedist, a surgeon who specializes in | | | | parents who know their children best. |
| treating the bones, muscles, tendons, and other | | | | |