Cerebral palsy is a group of chronic conditions affecting
body movement and muscle coordination. It is not progressive (i.e., does
not get worse), though secondary conditions can co-exist and change
through time. Though cerebral palsy cannot be "cured", therapy and
training can help a person improve his or her ability to
Three Basic Forms of Cerebral
- Spastic: includes stiff and
jerky motions; this is the most common form of cerebral palsy. For
example, a person may walk in a "scissored" fashion, which means that
the person walks with one leg crossing ahead and then the other.
- Athetoid: entails constant
movements of the arms, legs, face, and tongue that are random,
involuntary, and uncontrolled. People with this type of cerebral palsy
find it difficult to maintain purposeful motions.
- Ataxic: is characterized by
the inability to maintain normal balance. Problems with depth perception
and speech are also associated with this form of cerebral palsy.
Less Common Forms of Cerebral
- Tremor: is characterized by
the rhythmic shaking movements in one part of the body.
- Rigid: is evidenced by
extreme spasticity as muscles contract slowly and stiffly.
- Mixed: refers to two or more
forms already described.
(From: "Those of Us
DisLabeled: A Guide to Awareness and Understanding", University of
Kentucky Human Development Institute, Cooperative Extension
- Be yourself.
- Speak directly to the
individual, not to a friend or companion.
- Just because the
individual with cerebral palsy often has difficulty speaking clearly,
it does not mean the person is mentally retarded.
- Try to give your whole,
unhurried attention if the person has difficulty speaking.
- An individual who has
difficulty speaking may use a communication board. The board may be an
electronic device or a simple work board with key words, the alphabet,
or a combination of the two. A person with both mental retardation and
cerebral palsy also may use pictures.
- An individual with
cerebral palsy usually learns as quickly as anyone else, and most can
do many things. Do your best to stay calm and relaxed and avoid
tension-producing situations. Tension increases muscle rigidity,
making it more difficult for a person with cerebral palsy to do
- Fatigue can be a real
problem, because simple tasks such as getting dressed or eating meals
require more effort for an individual with cerebral palsy than for the
rest of us.
- Allow the person to make
choices. You can facilitate this by asking yes/no questions.