Overcoming the Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy Cognitive Impairment

Cerebral palsy (CP) is caused by injury to the parts of the brain that control movements in the muscles. It is commonly thought that kids with cerebral palsy will also suffer from cognitive impairment or mental retardation (I hate that word). But this simply isn't true. Statistics show that only 65% of kids with CP will also suffer some form of cognitive impairment.

Cognitive impairment is caused by damage to the parts of the brain that relate to learning and not by damage to the areas of the brain that control muscle movement. Just because a child has CP doesn't automatically mean they will experience cognitive impairment of learning difficulties. Learning difficulties as a result of cerebral palsy is most common in children with spastic quadriplegia.

How CP is caused is still a bit of a mystery and many parents find themselves frustrated at the lack of answers to their questions of 'how did this happen?' I certainly did. My baby was full term, ticked all the boxes at his various pre-birth checks and yet was diagnosed with right sided hemiplegia at 4 months.

According to scientific studies, babies whose mothers are older than thirty-five years old are susceptible to this condition. Complications during pregnancy can also lead to the development of this condition. Mothers who have suffered from herpes-type viruses and German measles will have more chances of causing severe brain damage to the brains of their unborn children. Birth canal infections and the usage of hormones during pregnancy can also lead to cerebral palsy.

Alcohol and drug abuse during pregnancy can also lead to cognitive impairment. Some prescription medications can also lead to foetal damage. Difficult labour, maternal infections, and other complications during childbirth can also lead to serious conditions like brain damage and cerebral palsy.

And you know what? Sometimes you did all that you could do to avoid any of the possible causes I've mentioned and your child still has cerebral palsy. That's the way it is sometimes.

Taking care of children with cerebral palsy
If your child is suffering from cerebral palsy, you have to pay attention to his cognitive and emotional needs. A long-term treatment method can hone your child's potentials and give him the chance to lead a normal life. Here are some of the most common methods used for easing the symptoms of cerebral palsy.

Speech therapy can improve your child's speech problems while helping him overcome the various challenges in his speech patterns. Start improving his ability to speak by giving him a wide array of stimulating activities. Once you have improved his speech, his ability to eat may also increase as he gains a level of mastery of the muscles in the mouth.

Physical therapy is also an element in caring for children with cerebral palsy. Start developing your child's muscles and coordination at a young age. This can decrease his dependence on various mobility aids and give him the freedom to do easy tasks without your help. Early therapy can also prevent his muscles from being permanently immobile and rigid.

You can also engage your child in vision and hearing therapy sessions in order to help him overcome the symptoms of cognitive impairment. Hearing aids can give your child the chance to interact better with other people.

Sensory integration therapy is also a popular method used in caring for children with cerebral palsy. This approach can help your children reach his potentials by overcoming the problems affecting his capability to absorb and to process sensory stimuli. Aside from improving your child's cognitive condition, this natural approach can also improve their steady movement. Sensory integration therapy includes activities for stimulating the kinaesthetic sensations through tangible items. Water, textured toys, and Styrofoam are only some of the items used for this therapeutic approach.

Caring for a child with cerebral palsy is hard work and can often be frustrating if you don't see signs of improvement. But remember that your love is what your child needs the most as you face the on going challenges in overcoming the symptoms of cerebral palsy cognitive impairment.

My son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 4 months. He's 8 now and whilst life is still a struggle for us both, I sometimes think I'm the one who has a harder time coping with his CP than he does. If you'd like more information on cerebral palsy and the brain then please visit the blog I've made to share information on CP: KidsWithCerebralPalsy.com. If you are the parent of a child with CP, my thoughts are with you.