Question
My child has cerebral palsy, is slow to respond, has weak limbs, cannot lift their head, doesn’t walk, has a scissor gait, cannot speak, and has poor intelligence. I’ve heard that rehabilitation treatment is helpful. Our family’s economy doesn’t allow us to go to the hospital. Can I do rehabilitation training at home? How should I deal with cerebral palsy?
Answer
Cerebral palsy is also known as congenital cerebral palsy. Congenital cerebral palsy is a syndrome characterized by motor and posture impairments caused by brain damage or injury at birth or within a month after birth. It is accompanied by epilepsy, intellectual disability, and other language disorders. Essentially, it is a synonym for pediatric cerebral palsy. The pathological changes often affects the pyramidal and extrapyramidal systems. The disease is directly related to traumatic and hemorrhagic infections in the brain (such as herpes zoster or early pregnancy), and conditions like severe infections with toxoplasmosis during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, severe preeclampsia, and pathological dystocia can lead to neonatal cerebral palsy. The treatment of cerebral palsy is a long-term process; during this time, the child needs the care and attention of family members. Rehabilitation therapy plays a positive role in improving the motor function, enhancing muscle strength, and improving daily living skills of children with cerebral palsy. Although rehabilitation therapy in a hospital is the best choice, if financial constraints prevent you from going to the hospital, you can consider doing some rehabilitation exercises at home. This includes physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. You can consult professional rehabilitation therapists to develop a suitable home rehabilitation plan to help improve your child’s symptoms and function. Remember, rehabilitation training requires time and patience; it needs to be consistent.