subject: Guide For Parents With Cerebral Palsy [print this page] Cerebral palsy, also known as CP, is a disorder of movement and posture that is not progressive in nature. It is caused by an injury or a defect or lesion in the developing brain of a fetus, newborn of infant. You should keep in mind the cerebral palsy is a life-long condition and plan as far ahead as possible in an attempt to keep your childs care at the best it can be for as long as they need it.
It can be overwhelming when you learn that your child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy. There are many different types of cerebral palsy and your doctor will inform you what type your child has. You should ask as many questions as you need. What questions your doctor doesnt or cant answer, keep in mind and you can ask other doctors the same questions. You should also research the type of cerebral palsy your child has. It is important to be up to date on the symptoms, problems, and treatments that are associated with cerebral palsy.
The prognosis for your cerebral palsy child will probably not be encouraging. It is up to you to keep a positive outlook. You should immediately look into any support groups in the area. If there are none available, consider looking into counseling for yourself, your spouse, your child, and any siblings. You are all experiencing different emotions and the most important thing is to be emotionally available for your family. This includes providing an incredible amount of emotional support to your child with the diagnosis.
While it is important to be aware of your familys emotions, it is even more important to be aware of the way this will affect your child medically. You need to be aware of any symptoms your child has, as well as any that may show up in the future. After receiving a diagnosis of cerebral palsy it is very important to understand all the appointments, follow-up visits, medicines, and therapies you will be taking your child to in the future. As the parent, it is your responsibility to learn as much as you can about the treatments your child receives. Be knowledgeable about your childs conditionnobody is responsible for these decisions but you and your spouse and you need to know which decision to make based upon your childs situation.
