Health Law

5 Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Cerebral Palsy

Your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy – the first and most obvious question you want to ask your doctor is 'what is cerebral palsy?' The answer is rather broad, considering that cerebral palsy is a single term used to define a group of movement disorders. To get a better understanding of your child's condition, ask your doctor the following:
 

What type of cerebral palsy does my child have? There are several types of cerebral palsy, including spastic, ataxic, athetoid and mixed. Knowing what type of cerebral palsy your child has will help you to better understand how to help him/her.

What are the possible treatment options? Each child's treatment plan should be tailored to his/her individual needs, but your doctor may recommend anything from physical therapy to surgery.

Will my child's condition improve? Cerebral palsy is not a progressive condition, meaning it will not worsen over time. However, various treatments may help to improve certain aspects of movement.

Does my child need to take medication? The answer to this question may depend on whether your child has associated conditions such as seizures.

What is the prognosis? There is no cure for cerebral palsy, but your doctor can discuss with you ways in which you can help to improve your child's quality of life.

Full post as published by Cerebral Palsy Law Blog on March 23, 2009 (boomark / email).