What Is It Like to Live With Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a brain disorder controlling movement. Because it isn't a disease, the condition can't be predicted or prevented. The disorder can be caused by various reasons such as premature births, particularly babies born under 3.3 pounds. Birth injuries from vacuum delivery, forceps and asphyxiation can also cause it. Besides being caused during pregnancy and childbirth, cerebral palsy an also occur in early childhood.

Around 5,000 to 10,000 children in the United States contact cerebral palsy every year. That's one to four children out of 1,000 live births.

Cerebral palsy (CP) types can either be classified into the number of limbs affected or by movement disorders. As for number of limbs involved there are five basic types. The most severe type is quadriplegia CP in which both legs and arms are affected. With diplegia CP all four limbs are damaged, with legs worse than the arms. Hemiplegia CP is when only one side of the body is affected, with an arm less useful than a leg. When three limbs are affected (usually both arms and a leg), it's triplegia CP. The least severe type is monoplegia CP where only one limb is affected, which, typically, is an arm. There are three types of cerebral palsy which are grouped into movement disorders. Spastic CP refers to tight and stiff muscles, making movements clumsy. With athetoid CP it's difficult to control and coordinate movements, resulting in spontaneous writhing movements and speech problems. Ataxic CP isn't as common and involves problems with balance and depth perception. People with this cerebral palsy have unsteady hands, a staggering walk and poor muscle tone.

Cerebral palsy presents lifelong challenges for children struggling with the disorder. Because of their disabilities, they need help with everyday skills. As a child grows into an adolescent, this can present even greater social problems because they know they're different from other kids. However, if they're taught to develop a positive attitude, they can cope better. Some need more help than others, depending on the severity of the disorder.

Besides financial stress, parents of cerebral palsy children deal with emotional, as well physical, academic and social stress. The challenges come in stages beginning with a diagnosis that something is wrong with their children. Accepting the news that a child has cerebral palsy is hard. However, as reality sets in parents usually make the needed adjustments, finding help for their children and for themselves by taking advantage of support groups where they can learn more about the disorder, as well as be reassured they're not alone. Next, parents struggle with finding special schools. While some parents believe their children are better off in regular schools, receiving special education, others contend special schools are needed. Both views have advantages and disadvantages. The benefit of special schools is the entire school is geared to handling handicapped children. On the other hand, mainstreaming kids in regular schools offers inclusion, exposing children to others. This teaches tolerance to non-handicapped children, helping the cerebral palsy children become more self-sufficient. Adolescence is hard for any parent, but especially challenging for parents of handicapped children. Some of the heartaches include knowing your child doesn't fit in with peers and feeling the pain of their loneliness. Parents of adult children worry about their kids' futures and who will care for them if the children survive them.

Contrary to what some believe, people with cerebral palsy can lead productive and normal lives. Some graduate from college, have rewarding careers, marry and become parents. Because it's not a progressive disorder, people afflicted with it can live an average lifetime, with 70 to 90 percent odds of surviving past age 20.