Debunking Seven Myths Related to Cerebral Palsy

 

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a group of neurological disorders caused by damage or abnormalities in the developing brain — having a wide range of symptoms. This has led to a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding about the disorder, resulting in confusion among families and individuals dealing with it. Hence, to get the best Cerebral Palsy treatment in Bangalore for them, it is crucial to clear the air and bust a couple of myths surrounding it. 

But before we get to debunking some stereotypical notions associated with the disorder, let us get a clear understanding of it. 

Understanding Cerebral Palsy 

CP refers to a group of neurological disorders that affect movement, muscle tone, coordination, and motor skills caused by damage or abnormalities in the developing brain. It appears in infancy or early childhood, and the symptoms may differ in type and severity from one person to another. It can even change over time, depending on which parts of the brain have received injuries. 

People with CP usually have problems with movement and posture. While some may experience intellectual disability, seizures, and abnormal physical sensations or perceptions, others face language and speech difficulties. 

Myths related to Cerebral Palsy 

Without further ado, here are some of the most common myths about Cerebral Palsy along with their corresponding facts: 

1. Myth: All people with CP have intellectual disabilities. 

Fact: A defining feature of CP is motor function impairment. In other words, people with the disorder have damage or abnormalities in the parts of the brain that affect movement and posture. Most of the time, there is also damage to regions that affect intellectual function resulting in speech difficulties. However, this may or may not be a sign of intellectual disability. 

2. Myth: Children can inherit the disorder from their parents.

Fact: False! CP is often caused by injuries sustained at or near childbirth. Since it is a neurological condition that occurs due to oxygen deprivation or traumatic force, children cannot inherit it from their parents and it is not primarily a genetic condition. 

3. Myth: CP is a contagious disease. 

Fact: Not true. Although CP has many different causes, individuals do not develop this disability by being around other people who have it. The disorder is most often the result of a brain injury, typically during pregnancy, birth, or the immediate postnatal period. So unlike the flu or common cold, it is not a disease and cannot be transmitted in any form or fashion from one person to another. 

4. Myth: People with CP can never walk or talk. 

Fact: Although some people with extreme forms of CP may always rely on a wheelchair to move around, others learn to walk. Similarly, only approximately 1 in 4 children have speech impairments due to the disorder. While some people with CP will never use their voices to communicate, many will speak without issue. Others may communicate either through eye-gaze control technology, pictures in books or through other communication aid devices. 

5. Myth: CP will get worse with age. 

Fact: It may seem like the symptoms are worsening in CP as a person gets older, but that may be due to the general change in physical abilities due to advancing age. It is a non-progressive disorder as the brain damage in it is static and is not progressive. 

6. Myth: Individuals with CP will not lead a prolonged life. 

Although the life expectancy and prognosis of an individual with CP can vary greatly, most children affected by it are healthy and have a life expectancy of 30 to 70 years. In general, a good prognosis will correlate with a standard life expectancy. 

7. Myth: The disorder is curable. 

Fact: While CP is not degenerative, it is not curable either. However, the best Cerebral Palsy treatment in Bangalore can alleviate symptoms and gradually improve a person’s quality of life. 

Some of the available treatment options are as follows: 

● Physical Therapy

It includes muscle training and exercises that help the strength, flexibility, balance, and motor development, and mobility of an individual with Cerebral Palsy. 

● Occupational Therapy 

This treatment helps regain control of the body by assisting the person with Cerebral Palsy perform daily activities independently. With the help of equipment such as braces, canes, wheelchairs, and others, he can handle their motion skills. 

● Speech and Language Therapy 

Individuals with Cerebral Palsy may have severe deficits in their oral structures, causing swallowing and speech difficulties. This therapy uses various techniques to enhance the oral-motor function and facilitate communication. 

● Stem Cell Therapy 

It is a regenerative treatment that involves the replacement of damaged cells with stem cells. This treatment is quickly gaining popularity as a potential treatment of Cerebral Palsy.