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CEREBRAL PALSY PROGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
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Cerebral Palsy Prognosis
Cerebral palsy is not a progressive disorder. A person with the
disorder may improve somewhat during childhood, if he or she receives
extensive care from specialists. While the brain injury is
non-progressive, evidence suggests that functional decline occurs in
persons with CP in adulthood. Functional decline can encompass
decrease in range of motion, decrease or loss of ambulation, and
increased pain. In essence, it appears that adults with CP undergo an
accelerated aging process compared to their non-disabled peers. Onset
of arthritis and osteoporosis can occur much sooner in adults with CP.
Further research is needed on adults with CP, as the current
literature body is highly focused on the pediatric patient.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder-ADHD Facts
The ability to live independently with cerebral palsy varies
widely depending on severity of the disability. Some individuals with
CP will require personal assistant services for all activities of
daily living. Others can live semi-independently in the community with
support for certain activities. Still others can live with complete
independence. The need for personal assistance often changes with
increasing age and the associated functional decline. However, in all
except the most severe of cases, persons with CP can expect to have a
normal life expectancy. As the condition does not directly affect
reproductive function, many persons with CP can have children and
parent successfully.
Cerebral Palsy Treatment
There is no cure for cerebral
palsy, but various forms of therapy can help a person with the
disorder to function more effectively. Nevertheless, there is only
some benefit from life-long care. The treatment is usually symptomatic
and focuses on helping the person to develop as many motor skills as
possible or to learn how to compensate for the lack of them. The
disorder does not affect the expected length of life so treatment
focuses on quality of life issues. Non-speaking people with cerebral
palsy are often successful availing of Augmentative and Alternative
Communication systems such as Blissymbols.
Usage of the term "spastic"
The term "spastic" describes the attribute of spasticity in one type
of cerebral palsy. In 1952 a UK charity called The Spastics Society
was formed. The term "spastic" was used by the charity as a term for
people with cerebral palsy. The word has since been used extensively
as a general insult to disabled people, which some see as extremely
offensive. It is also frequently used to insult able-bodied people
when they seem overly anxious or unskilled in sports. The charity
changed its name to SCOPE in 1994.
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cerebral Palsy
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