Understanding Cerebral Palsy: Our Role in Your Child’s Care
Has your child recently been diagnosed with cerebral palsy? You may feel overwhelmed by what this means for your child as they grow and develop. The good news is that you don’t have to go on this journey alone–and the pediatric therapists at Skills on the Hill would love to serve as part of your child’s care team!
Cerebral palsy is a complex condition that can cause several symptoms related to movement and posture. Our pediatric physical, speech, and occupational therapists can play a significant role in helping to improve your child’s motor development, fitness, and overall quality of life throughout their childhood.
Keep reading to learn more about cerebral palsy: what it is, what to expect, and how our team can help. And if you’d like more personalized guidance, please request an appointment at our Washington, DC or Arlington, VA clinic!
Living with Cerebral Palsy: What To Expect
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term for several neurological conditions that permanently impact movement and muscle function. It typically appears early on in a child’s life (sometimes in early childhood), and there’s no cure. Treatment focuses on managing the condition.
That said, your child’s experience with cerebral palsy will vary wildly depending on a number of factors. Mild cerebral palsy may only cause slight movement issues that a teenager or adult can manage on their own, while someone with more severe cerebral palsy might need lifelong care.
Specific symptoms can vary as well. The unifying factor is that cerebral palsy impacts movement, but how it does this won’t look the same from person to person. One child might experience tremors and tight muscles, while another may struggle with muscle coordination and decreased muscle tone.
Because cerebral palsy occurs due to changes in the brain, many children with the condition experience non-movement symptoms, such as intellectual disability, seizures, speech and language disorders, and more.
Finding the Help Your Child Deserves
It’s crucial that you assemble a healthcare team that can address all of your child’s symptoms. At Skills on the Hill, we offer three different services to help improve your child’s quality of life, no matter their symptoms.
We always begin treatment with a comprehensive assessment to help us better understand your child’s exact needs. We’ll take a complete health history from you and coordinate with your child’s pediatrician and other healthcare team members. We’ll also observe your child at play to help us understand their strengths and weaknesses.
From there, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan that addresses the areas where your child needs the most help. We offer three types of pediatric therapy: physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
A Multidisciplinary Team for Cerebral Palsy Care
Pediatric Physical Therapy
All children with cerebral palsy, whether mild or severe, will benefit from dedicated physical therapy sessions. After all, physical therapists are movement experts, and we can work with your child at all stages of their development to improve muscular strength and function.
For children who have yet to start school, we focus on play as a way of encouraging movement development. We’ll provide fun activities that help improve the way your child’s muscles work and can suggest activities to do at home.
As your child grows, we’ll adjust their treatment plan to help address new changes that might arise, such as starting school. For older kids, we focus on encouraging fitness, managing discomfort, and preventing mobility limitations.
Pediatric Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy differs from physical therapy because it focuses on helping your child perform everyday activities, such as brushing their teeth or getting dressed. We can also help navigate conditions related to cerebral palsy, such as intellectual differences, learning difficulties, or impaired vision.
The main goal of pediatric occupational therapy is to help improve your child’s day-to-day life. For some kids, that may mean coordination exercises to learn how to write or use utensils. For other kids, it may mean helping them with goal-setting or advocating for themselves at school.
Pediatric Speech Therapy
Sometimes, children with cerebral palsy experience symptoms such as hearing loss, difficulty forming words or speaking clearly, or excessive drooling. For these kids, pediatric speech therapy is a must.
Our speech therapists can work with your child to improve the function and strength of the muscles in their mouth, lips, and tongue, helping to improve both speaking and swallowing ability. We can also suggest alternative means of communication, if necessary.
Get Started with Skills on the Hill Today
Living with cerebral palsy can be challenging–but a well-crafted care team can help ensure your child thrives. Schedule an appointment to learn more about what our pediatric physical, speech, and occupational therapists can do for your child.
Sources:
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/cerebral-palsy