4 Common Myths About Cerebral Palsy

Do you suspect your child could have cerebral palsy? Perhaps you’re seeing specialists and your child is going through a battery of tests. As a parent, you likely feel anxious. Will your child live life in a wheelchair? Will your loved one be able to go to school? 

At AMS Neurology in Pasadena, California, Dr. Charles Niesen and our team provide compassionate care for children with cerebral palsy. Dr. Niesen provides resources for parents and caregivers to help them understand and manage their child’s disorder. Cerebral palsy isn’t a disease. It’s a result of damage to the brain before, during, or just after birth. 

Myths surrounding cerebral palsy have existed for many years. It’s time to shed light on the subject and dispel incorrect assumptions and misinformation. The following are four common myths about cerebral palsy, followed by correct information about this disorder. 

Myth: Individuals with cerebral palsy won’t live a long life 

Cerebral palsy doesn’t affect all people the same way. Life expectancy for a child with cerebral palsy depends on the severity of the disorder. It is true that in the past, many children with a severe form of the disorder didn’t live to adulthood. 

That’s no longer the case. Most children with cerebral palsy now reach adulthood. Modern cerebral palsy treatments, including medication, therapy, and mobility aids, help extend your loved one’s life. Severe cases of cerebral palsy are treated with surgery. 

If your child has mild cerebral palsy, their life expectancy is about the same as the average person’s life expectancy. Your loved one can live a normal life. 

Myth: Individuals with cerebral palsy are intellectually disabled 

Cerebral palsy affects movement and posture. While some children with cerebral palsy have intellectual disabilities, many excel in school and lead lives of professional distinction. 

Abbey Curran won the Miss Iowa beauty pageant in 2008 and was the first contestant with a disability to compete in the Miss USA pageant. R. J. Mitte, the actor who played Walter White Jr. on the TV series “Breaking Bad,” was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was three years old. 

Cerebral palsy doesn’t present with only one set of symptoms. It affects each patient differently. If your child does have intellectual disabilities with cerebral palsy, AMS Neurology ensures you and your child have access to treatments that enhance their life so they live up to their full potential. 

Myth: All individuals with cerebral palsy use wheelchairs

While some patients with cerebral palsy use wheelchairs, not all do. Over 50% can walk independently — some with no limitations and some with an assistive device like a cane or walker. 

Using a wheelchair simply means you need assistance with movement. It has no bearing on what your child can achieve during their life. Frida Kahlo, a famous Mexican artist, used a wheelchair. So did President Franklin D. Roosevelt, as well as renowned physicist Steven Hawking. 

Myth: Individuals with cerebral palsy can’t live independently 

While some people with cerebral palsy need assistance with normal daily living, many live independently. 

People with cerebral palsy have families, drive vehicles, go to college, and have good jobs. Your child’s level of independence will vary depending on whether their disorder is mild, moderate, or severe. 

Once you know the facts about cerebral palsy, you can enhance public awareness and acceptance of those with the disorder and help your child live their best life and achieve their fullest potential. 

Call AMS Neurology or book an appointment online today if you think your child may have cerebral palsy.