If My Child Has Been Diagnosed With CP, Does This Mean They Will Have Other Medical Conditions?

For some the day-to-day problems faced by children and adults with cerebral palsy, and their carers, are not motor ones alone. It is important that you discuss other areas of your child's development if you have concerns.

Some of the most common and under recognized but treatable co-occurring conditions include

  • Chronic pain (affecting 3 in 4),
  • Behavior disorders (affecting 1 in 4)
  • Sleep disorders (affecting 1 in 5).
  • Communication (1 in 4 cannot talk)
  • Epilepsy (affecting 1 in 4 )
  • Hearing (1 in 25 are deaf)
  • Intellectual Development (1 in 2 have learning disability);
  • Hip Development (1 in 3 have hip displacement)
  • Behavior (affecting 1 in 4) 
  • Bladder control problems
  • Drooling (1 in 5 dribble)
  • Vision (affecting 1 in 10)
  • Feeding (1 in 15 required to be tube fed)

 

Novak. I, Evidence-Based Diagnosis, Health Care, and Rehabilitation for Children With Cerebral Palsy, J Child Neurology 2014 29: 1141 originally published online 22 June 2014.