How is Cerebral Palsy treated?

Children who have cerebral palsy will have the disorders all through their life, but treatment can allow them to live in a more manageable way. Treatment includes focusing on preventing or minimizing deformities and helping the patients to achieve maximum potential in growth and development.

There is no standard therapy that works for people suffering with cerebral palsy. A multidisciplinary team of health care professionals works with the child and family to identify the child�s unique needs and develop an individualized treatment plan that addresses child�s impairments.

The members of the treatment team for a child with cerebral palsy should be knowledgeable professionals with a wide range of specialties. The team is generally coordinated by one health care professional and may include pediatricians, physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, orthopedic surgeons, physical and occupational therapists, ophthalmologists, speech/language pathologists, and social workers and psychologists.

The drugs to control seizures and muscle spasms, special braces to compensate for muscle imbalance, surgery, mechanical aids to help overcome impairments, counseling for emotional and psychological needs, and physical, occupational, speech, and behavioral therapy are some of the approaches that can be considered while creating a child�s individual treatment plan. The earlier a child begins cerebral palsy treatment, the more they are able to cope with the changes they will endure.

Finally, it is important to note that apart from healthcare professionals, family members of the patient are the key individuals in the treatment team, and they should closely involve in all steps of planning, making decisions, and applying treatments. Time and again it is proved that family support and personal determination are two important factors that help individuals with cerebral palsy achieve long-term goals.