Physical therapy: CP

A physical therapist will focus on helping children with strength, balance, flexibility and coordination required
for motor skills and functional mobility including rolling, sitting, crawling, and walking. They also select,
fabricate, modify, and train children and families in the use of adaptive equipment.
Speech and language:
 Speech and language therapists (also known as speech therapists or speech-language pathologists)
observe, diagnose, and treat the communication disorders associated with CP. They use a program of
exercises to teach children how to overcome specific communication difficulties. A speech therapist works
with your child on the receptive (understanding) part of speech and language as well as the expressive part
(talking). Speech therapist help improve your child’s ability to speak clearly or communicate using
alternative means such as an augmentative communication devise or sign language. They may also help
with difficulties related to feeding and swallowing. Speech interventions often use a child’s family members
and friends to reinforce the lessons learned in a therapeutic setting. This kind of indirect therapy
encourages people who are in close daily contact with a child to create opportunities for him or her to use
their new skills in conversation, learning and play.
Psychology:
Psychologists can help children and families cope with the special stresses and demands of CP. In some
cases, psychologist may also oversee therapy to address unhelpful or destructive behaviors.
Vision and hearing aids:
Depending on how your child’s eyes are affected, he or she may need eyeglasses to correct vision or
surgery to correct a vision problem. Hearing aids may help correct hearing problems.
Orthotics:
A variety of orthotics, braces or splints, may be recommended for your child to correct muscle
abnormalities. These may be used on your child’s legs, arms, hands or trunk. Some of these supports are
used to help function, such as improved walking, sitting or standing. The purpose of other types of
orthotics is for additional stretching or positioning of a joint.