C – Cerebral Palsy

C – Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is known as one of the most varied medical conditions which probably explains why it took doctors 9 months to give my parents a diagnosis. The disability charity, Scope, defines Cerebral Palsy as being a “description of a physical impairment that affects movement, the movement problems vary from barely noticeable to extremely severe. No two people with Cerebral Palsy (CP) are the same it is as individual as people themselves.”

If we break the term up then Cerebral refers to the Brain and Palsy refers to Movement. Therefore although Cerebral Palsy is as individual as people themselves the one common characteristic is a problem with movement. This can include a difficulty with producing movement, a difficulty with preventing movement or a difficulty in controlling movement. In terms of the ability to walk this varies hugely from being a full time wheel chair user to being able to walk unaided, even if ‘we’ are a little unsteady and tire easily when walking.

In a nutshell Cerebral Palsy means that there has been some brain damage which could have been sustained Before Birth, During Birth or After Birth,
Before Birth – The baby’s brain could be damaged while in the womb, if the mother has to undergo radiotherapy, during pregnancy. Damage could also be caused by what the mother eats, for example, raw meats or if the mother chooses to drink alcohol while being pregnant
During Birth – The primary cause is where there has been a lack of oxygen at birth (This is how my CP was caused, the umbilical cord becoming wrapped around my neck)
After Birth – If the brain is damaged within the first five years of life, for example, if the child suffers from an infection or sustains a serious head injury.

Depending on the extent of the brain damage there can be other symptoms of CP for example, problems with speech. If a persons speech has been affected, then the extent also varies considerably. I have met people who have no speech at all and therefore have to use a Communication Board. Other people may have a voice synthesiser, as a back up. Other people, like me, find that they can be understood 85% of the time and for the times where people do not understand me I have strategies. My main strategy is trying to re phrase what I am trying to say or if worse comes to worse then there is always pen and paper. My next blog will focus on communication and will include some funny stories!