Home > Diagnoses & Conditions > Cerebral Palsy > FAQ
Cerebral Palsy - FAQ
From Parents/Families
My child has a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, and his legs are continued to get stiffer despite braces. I thought that cerebral palsy wasn't progressive?
Although certain symptoms of cerebral palsy such as contractures and stiffness tend to worsen over time, the brain lesion responsible for these symptoms does not progress. Childen with cerebral palsy are able to make developmental improvements over time, although in very involved children these improvements may be very slow. If you think that your child is regressing in his abilities, this is important information for your physician to know as it is possible that the diagnosis of cerebral palsy isn't correct.I have one child who was born with cerebral palsy and now I am thinking of getting pregnant again. What are the changes that my next child will have cerebral palsy?
The answer to this question is complicated and depends entirely on why your first child has cerebral palsy. Genetic conditions that may cause cerebral palsy may be inherited and lead to an increased risk for CP in subsequent children whereas environmental causes for CP are often very unlikely to happen again. Ask your provider who may refer you to a specialist such as a neurologist or geneticist for answers to this question. Also, it might be appropriate to consult with a perinatologist or high risk obstetrician prior to your next pregnancy.Does my child with CP have a normal life expectancy?
The answer to this question depends on the type of cerebral palsy your child has and any related complications. Generally, childen with more involved CP such as spastic quadriparesis may have shortened life expectancies, as children who are nonmobile and have difficulty eating by mouth by themselves are subject to illnesses such as pneumonia, although many live far into mid and late adulthood. Children with mild CP might be expected to have normal life-spans. Because the answer to this question is specific to the child, ask your provider. There are many resources for parents of children with serious illness, for instance, see Partnership for Parents.Will hyperbaric oxygen help my child with CP?
There are many alternative therapies without proven medical benefit by controlled scientific studies that are offered to families of children with disabilities. As these therapies are often quite expensive, families should research potential benefits and discuss these therapies with their Medical Home before embarking on any unproven and in some cases, potentially harmful, therapies. Also see UCP study on hyperbaric oxygen and US Dept Health & Human Services report on efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.Authors
| Authors: | Lisa Samson-Fang MD, 3/2008 Lynne M Kerr MD, PhD, 3/2008 |
| Content Last Updated: | 3/2008 |