Question
Can a 7-year-old child with cerebral palsy undergo psychological therapy in addition to regular treatment, and is it helpful for this disease? Are there any other alternative remedies?
Answer
The incidence of cerebral palsy is mostly before or during infancy, with main symptoms including increased muscle tone and difficulty in gait. In severe cases, muscle stiffness, spasms, and joint contractures can be observed. In milder cases, one may see slight weakness in hand movements and the inability to touch the ground with the heel when walking. Such patients often have language development disorders, articulation difficulties, and strabismus, with about one-third of patients experiencing varying degrees of seizures and intellectual disability. Cerebral palsy can lead to delayed motor development. For children with cerebral palsy, it is important to avoid the formation of adverse postures and limb deformities: if the cerebral palsy child is in infancy, these “abnormalities” will receive proper early treatment. Psychological therapy can be one of the auxiliary treatment methods for children with cerebral palsy, but it cannot cure cerebral palsy itself. Through psychological therapy, it can help children cope with the psychological pressure and challenges brought by cerebral palsy, enhance their self-regulation ability, and adaptability. In addition, cerebral palsy children can also try other auxiliary treatment methods such as physical therapy, rehabilitation training, and language therapy to promote their development and improve their daily life functions.