Module 1: Introduction

Page Objectives 

When you have finished this workshop, you should have a clearer understanding about cerebral palsy, and be able to explain to someone else:

• What cerebral palsy is.
• The causes of cerebral palsy.
• What cerebral palsy looks like.
• How the brain influences movement and posture.
• Other problems often found with cerebral palsy

What is Cerebral Palsy

Has anyone ever told you why your child is not developing as expected, or why your child is disabled?

• What has the doctor or nurse told you?
• What do your family or neighbours say about your child?
• Have you ever heard the words Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is damage to part of the brain causing problems with movement and/or posture.

Medical Definition

Cerebral palsy (CP) describes a group of permanent disorders of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitation, that are attributed to non-progressive disturbances that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain. The motor disorders of cerebral palsy are often accompanied by disturbances of sensation, perception, cognition, communication, and behaviours, by epilepsy, and by secondary musculoskeletal problems. (Rosenbaum et al., 2007)

Questions Parents may ask

• Can other children catch cerebral palsy? Is it contagious?

NO. It cannot be passed from one child to another.

• Are all children with cerebral palsy the same?

NO. Cerebral palsy affects each child differently. Each child is unique, just as you are different
from your neighbour, and your sister, mother, uncle, twin…

• Will my child die from cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy normally does not affect life-expectancy. Your child with cerebral palsy will grow up
to be an adult with cerebral palsy. However, some of the complications of cerebral palsy (for
example, severe postural problems leading to decreased lung capacity) can be life threatening.

• Can children with cerebral palsy go to school?

All children have the right to education. Generally speaking, in South Africa parents and teachers
have low expectations of children with cerebral palsy. What do you expect of your child?
Remember, all children have the right to education, and that includes children with cerebral palsy.

• From what backgrounds do children with cerebral palsy come / Do they live in cities, or on farms? Are they rich or poor?

From all backgrounds. There are children (and adults) with cerebral palsy in every country of the world. And from every city, or town, or rural area. There are poor communities with children with cerebral palsy, and rich communities with children with cerebral palsy. It is commonly accepted that about one in every 400 children all over the world has cerebral palsy. There are no known published statistics about the incidence of cerebral palsy in South Africa.

• Do children with cerebral palsy always have below average intelligence?

Many children with cerebral palsy have average or above average intelligence. Some children with cerebral palsy have below average intelligence, and some may be profoundly intellectually disabled. But many children with cerebral palsy are labeled with an intellectual disability too early, especially when they have difficulty communicating, and are then not helped or trained to their
fullest potential.

• Can cerebral palsy be cured?

Cerebral palsy cannot be cured. Early help and training can help children‟s development. Remember your child with cerebral palsy will develop into an adult with cerebral palsy. Searching for a cure will only bring disappointment. Rather help your child to become an adult who can live with her disability and be as independent as possible. Sometimes, when a child is older and her muscles have become very stiff over a long time, operations can be done, or very strong medication can be used, which can help the child to sit or lie more comfortably.

• Does cerebral palsy get worse?

No. The damaged parts of the brain do not get better, but neither do they get worse. The child‟s movements, body positions and the other problems we spoke about can become more obvious as the child gets older, and seem worse, but they can also be improved. It depends on the amount of damage, and on how we handle and position the baby/child. The earlier you start to help your child to learn, the more she can develop. Sometimes, illnesses that affect the brain, like meningitis, or very severe prolonged bouts of epilepsy, can cause further damage to the child‟s brain. Such a child‟s disability will probably then become worse.