Cerebral palsy in children doesn’t become apparent immediately after birth, and an accurate diagnosis of the condition can take months, if not years, especially in cases with milder symptoms. Getting a diagnosis can seem like a blessing in disguise because it gives you some peace of mind knowing that your child’s condition is not fatal, and there are treatment plans you can opt for to improve their condition. Of course, you might feel heartbroken or overwhelmed by such a diagnosis, but now is not the time to mull over it. Instead, it’s time to act to secure your child’s future and quality of life.
Ways you can Help your Child
A cerebral palsy diagnosis doesn’t signify the end of the world, and there’s certainly no need to panic. Instead, pull yourself together to ensure your child can go on to live a healthy, productive life. While there’s no cure for cerebral palsy, treatments can significantly improve the quality of life.
Today, we will be sharing six ways you can help your child with cerebral palsy. Continue reading to learn more.
Get Financial Help
For every thousand children born in a hospital, about seven suffer from birth injuries in the U.S. The first thing on your agenda after finding out your child has cerebral palsy is filing a lawsuit against those who caused this in the first place. Cerebral palsy is a direct consequence of medical negligence by those you trusted to care for your child during labor.
You might have one question lingering in your mind: Could a cerebral palsy lawyer help you pay for your child’s treatment? The answer is yes. You can receive compensation that can help you pay for surgeries and treatments, including physical, occupational, and speech therapy. The average payout of medical malpractice settlement is around one million dollars for a child under one-month-old.
Apart from that, there are many government-support programs and financial support organizations for cerebral palsy that can help you cover the cost of CP treatment. You can ensure your child gets the best possible treatments to lead an independent life as they get older by finding ways to manage their expenses.
Help them Get Therapy
Enroll your child in therapy programs as early as possible.
When treating cerebral palsy, physical therapy is often the first step. A child with cerebral palsy suffers from physical impediments, that affect muscle movement and control. They begin to develop patterns at a young age, which have the potential to be beneficial or dsetrimental to their growth. Therapy programs can help their muscles learn more helpful patterns.
These sessions can take place at your therapist’s office or at home. The amount of therapy your child receives when they are young improves their chances of an independent life as an adult. It can help develop motor skills and prevent mobility disorders from worsening. Additionally, it can assist with muscle stiffness, pain relief, and overall mobility.
Ensure Proper Nutrition
Over 90% of people with cerebral palsy suffer from feeding difficulties and digestive problems due to muscle impairment. Children with CP are at a higher risk for malnutrition as it affects their ability to make the necessary mouth movements such as chew, suck, and swallow. Malnutrition is the most significant risk factor for children with CP as it can cause further health complications such as developmental delays, digestive difficulties, abdominal pain, and chronic constipation.
You can ensure your child gets proper daily nutrition by enrolling them in a food and diet counseling program. Dieticians closely work with primary care doctors to develop comprehensive care plans to ensure your child’s overall health.
Emotional Support
A child with cerebral palsy is at a higher risk of developing psychological problems than other children due to the birth injury, family situation, or part of their experience growing up.
When it comes to emotional and mental health, one out of every five children with CP will have several difficulties. ADHD is the most prevalent disorder among children with CP. Anxiety and depression are also common in people with CP; 20% of those with cerebral palsy suffer from the latter.
Hence, when they are young, be sure to fulfill all their emotional needs and be a source of emotional comfort for them as a family. It’s crucial to remember that you hold the power to help your child if they are experiencing emotional distress. To help your child become more self-sufficient, you should create a strong connection with them. Teach them healthy coping mechanisms, offer them chances to express themselves, work on their communication skills, and provide them with assistive devices and other resources.
Hire Caretakers to Care for your Child in Your Absence
It’s not uncommon for families of children with cerebral palsy to run into difficulties. Your child’s difficulties will depend on how their brain has been affected. When it comes to a child’s health, there are many variables.
A child with cerebral palsy may find it challenging to do some everyday duties, but support is available. The level of assistance they need will also depend on the difficulties they experience. Taking care of a kid who has cerebral palsy takes a lot of time, effort, understanding, and patience on the part of everyone involved. Hire professional caregiving assistance offered by nurses or professional caregivers. A professional caregiver will have up-to-date knowledge about the latest treatments and be familiar with cerebral palsy to care for your child properly.
Education
If you want to make sure your child gets the education they need, you have a lot of alternatives.
Firstly, many special education facilities cater to children with special needs. These institutions are equipped with cutting-edge technology and employ educators who have undergone extensive training to provide the most effective instruction for your child’s unique learning style. Although kind of education is often rather expensive, scholarships are available for students from low-income households. It is also possible to educate your kid within the comfort of your own home via homeschooling or private tutoring. Your child’s development can benefit from instructors who work with them one-on-one.
Final Thoughts
Even if the symptoms of cerebral palsy are mild, caring for someone with the condition is a challenging task. Families dealing with a child who has cerebral palsy have unique challenges. Your child may deal with a wide range of difficulties resulting from cerebral palsy affecting various brain sections. Fortunately, breakthroughs in medical technology have made it possible for children with disabilities to lead healthy and productive lives.