Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy describes a group of disorders of the development of muscle and posture, which can limit activity. The motor disorders of Cerebral Palsy are often accompanied by other conditions including disturbances of communication, cognition, perception and particular behavioural patterns that may impact on the learner’s daily life. Cerebral Palsy is not a single condition. It is an umbrella term used to describe a group of conditions that interfere with the body’s motor system and causes movement problems. The condition is caused by damage or faulty development within a certain part of the brain used to send messages to the muscles to control movement and co-ordination. This damage or faulty development usually happens in the womb, although it can sometimes occur during or shortly after birth.

Cerebral Palsy is classified into four main types – spastic, athetoid, ataxic and mixed. The type of Cerebral Palsy is dependent on the damage to particular areas of the brain. The most common type of the disorder is spastic Cerebral Palsy, which typically occurs in seven out of ten cases. The muscles are stiffer than normal and the degree of effect in an arm or leg can vary from case to case. Athetoid Cerebral Palsy occurs in two out of ten cases and causes involuntary, slow, writhing movements of the hands, sudden muscle spasms and often effecting the tongue or face muscles. This can lead to communication difficulties in patients with athetoid Cerebral Palsy. Ataxic Cerebral Palsy effects balance and fine movement such as writing, which can lead to slower communications processes and effect a child’s schooling. Mixed Cerebral Palsy occurs in patients with a combination of two or even all three of the above categories.

Cerebral Palsy can range in severity and is said to be a ‘non-progressive’ disorder and once the damage to the brain has occurred, unless there is further trauma to the head the condition will not progress any further. However, the physiological effects of muscle spasms and involuntary movement may eventually cause further problems with some joints becoming fixed in one position as a child grows older.

How does Cerebral Palsy affect communication skills?

Approximately half of children diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy have some degree of learning difficulty, due to either problems with muscle control, motor-skills and co-ordination or through other neurological conditions. This can be frustrating for many children with average or above average intelligence. This in turn can develop into other psychological conditions including anxiety, a sense of isolation and possibly even depression.

Although the bedrock of Cerebral Palsy treatment is through the use of physiotherapy, Verbal Behaviour intervention has many techniques to help sufferers achieve far more comprehensive language skills and communication control. This allows our learners access to more relationships and successful social interactions. In the treatment of Cerebral Palsy, a cohesion of a variety of therapies has to work in synergy to help the learner achieve their maximum potential. Intervention at an early stage in the condition combined with speech therapy to help the child actually vocalise more efficiently can build confidence. On this foundation, Verbal Behaviour has a key role to play in the cognitive and communicative functions of children suffering from all types of Cerebral Palsy. Here at VBC, we will teach everybody around the learner how to teach language, communication and social skills as a way of life. All other skills, such as self help and academic are also targeted where needed. Verbal Behaviour will motivate your learner to want to learn.

The importance of support networks

Because of the physical disabilities often encountered by Cerebral Palsy sufferers, knowing that there is a support network of others who are going through the same experiences helps to prevent learners and their families from feeling isolated. At VBC we place a great deal of emphasis on the importance of support, both for the learner and their family. We offer support from like minded families and professionals certain that their child can and will exceed all limitations presented by many medics.

If you would like to know more about how Verbal Behaviour can help you and your child to improve their communication skills, contact us in confidence for further information.