FAQs on Cerebral Palsy (CP)
GENERAL QUERIES
1. What are the symptoms of brain injury in an infant?
2. Is CP a disease of the muscle or brain? As often muscle function is affected.
3. What are early signs of CP?
4. Once I notice early signs of CP, what do I do, whom do I approach – Pediatrician or Pediatric
Neurologist?
5. How early can be CP be diagnosed in a child?
6. Can CP be cured?
7. Does the brain have potential to repair injury and reverse effects that led to CP?
8. What are the common complications often seen in individuals with CP?
9. What age-related challenges will my child with CP face over the years?
10. Will my child with CP show degeneration with advancing age? Is yes, what should I know to
be prepared and help manage my child?
11. If CP is due to brain injury, it can’t get worse with age. Then why is age-related deformation
often the case in children with CP?
12. Do all children with CP appear the same, and have the same age-related challenges?
13. What is the role of early intervention in reducing structural problems in children with CP as
they grow older?
14. What is the life expectancy of a child with CP?
15. Do all children with CP have developmental delays?
16. Does having CP also indicate mental impairment?
17. What are the effects of hormones on early puberty in my child with CP?
18. Can brain morphology pinpoint delay in speech or movement in a child before the onset of the
specific delay?
19. Will my child’s development be impacted due to CP, and to what degree in response to a
brain injury?
20. If my child’s condition (CP) has been caused due to medical negligence, what measures do I
take?
21. Why is bending of bones commonly seen a child with CP grows older?
22. What should I as a parent bear in mind to avoid secondary complications such as hip
dislocation and other bone-related injuries in my child with CP?
23. Can a child with CP engage in outdoor hobbies such as sports and other physical activities?
24. If my child has CP can he never be employed?
25. Can my child with CP get married?
26. Message to parents - a CP parent’s responsibility. How do you cope?
EPILEPSY AND CP
1. If the mother has seizures and is taking seizure medications during pregnancy, what are her
chances of having a child with CP? Is there an increased risk of CP in the fetus?
2. Do seizures cause CP, or worsen risk for CP?
3. What are the types of seizures seen in children with CP?
4. Can a child with CP develop seizures late in life?
5. What are subclinical seizures?
6. What happens if a child is not on seizure control medication? Are there other ways of
managing it?
7. What are the common side effects of seizure medication that a parent must be mindful of?
GENETICS OF CP
27. Is CP a genetic disease? If yes, have genes been identified?
28. How did my child develop CP? There is no family history and I took good care during my
pregnancy.
29. My first child has CP, what are the chances of my second child having CP?
30. Can CP risk be identified during early pregnancy through genetic testing?
CP MANAGEMENT
31. What are the most effective ways to manage CP through regular exercises at home?
32. Could you suggest preventive measures that I can take to ensure my child’s muscle does not
atrophy further with age?
33. Ways to improve muscle tone in children with CP (also, other than regular physiotherapy)?
34. My child has CP. Will he/she ever walk?
35. What is the effectiveness of alternate therapies in CP management?
36. How can alternate therapies help with management of epilepsy and associated behavioral
issues such as aggression in?
37. What are the current prospects of stem cell therapy for treatment of CP?
38. Under what conditions would you recommend surgery in a child with CP?
39. What is orthotics and how do I know if my child needs it?
40. Whom do I approach to understand what assistive devices are best suited for my child’s
challenges?
NUTRITION AND CP
1. My child with CP has trouble swallowing. This restricts the right nutritional intake. What can I do to
ensure my child receives the required nutrients everyday?
