Cerebral Palsy is a generic term that describes a group
of disorders affecting a person's ability to be mobile. It occurs during pregnancy or shortly after
birth, and affects the development of the brain. It can affect people in different ways, and
can affect body movement, muscle control and coordination, relax, posture, and
balance. There is no typical case of
cerebral palsy, so people can walk, but with limitations, other may be confined
to a wheelchair unable to walk. One patient I am familiar with is a twin, born
with no complications. At 3 months of
age she had a routine hernia surgery, and anesthesia complications occurred,
this patient was then diagnosed with CP, and would never communicate verbally. People that are diagnosed with this condition
generally have some learning disabilities that can range from mild to
severe. A portion of the individuals
suffer complications with their voice box, and may be unable to communicate
verbally. Many people with cerebral
palsy have community jobs, however a day service program is an option available
as well. A person with this condition
may be in a wheelchair, unable to talk
with limited mobility. A common
problem is the inability to chew food and swallow correctly. Grinding foods is often required for the CP
patient. In some rare cases, feeding via
a stomach tube may be necessary.
Patient Care with Cerebral Palsy
Individuals with cerebral palsy tend to have more
health related problems, and make more trips to the hospital. When you have a patient with this condition,
there are some factors to consider in providing care. They may have special needs when it comes to
communication. This will be fairly
obvious to determine, and if the communication is limited, check to see about
including the guardian in conversations.
When approaching the patient to provide treatment or care, explain
everything in detail. Many patients with
this condition are very sensitive to touch and sound, so explaining ahead of
time will ensure the patient is more comfortable. Talking as you proceed may distract from the
procedure and put the patient more at ease.
When working with a patient with this condition, keep
in mind, they have a medical condition, however they are not children. A major complaint of cerebral palsy patients
is that they are treated like children.
People tend to talk down to them, which many consider an insult. Speak with them as you would any other
patient, and if there is a lack of understanding you can adjust the verbiage
accordingly. The patient should have
extra care regarding breathing; many with this condition have lung conditions
that can escalate during other illnesses.
Cerebral Palsy Facts
There is a large population, although many have passed
away, of individuals in the age range born 1935-1950. This was the when a very popular drug was
being administered to women in labor, it was known as the twilight drug. This drug was not studied extensively, and
was used over a 15 year period before it was determined that in fact it caused
severe birth defects, one of which was cerebral palsy. The drug was used to relax the mom during the
labor process, and that did work. The
problem was that while it helped the mother, it did not help the unborn
baby. It affected the baby's brain and
spinal cord, because multiple issues for most mothers that were administered
the drug. At that time, there was not
fast means of communication, no internet, or fax machines, so it took some time
to spread the word that this drug was not safe for unborn babies. The drug was taken off the market in 1950,
however during that 15 year time span more babies were born with birth defects
than ever recorded in history. Other
factors can enter the picture to cause this condition, a very slow birthing
process is thought to have some impact, which is why in many cases cesareans
are recommended when the baby does not appear to enter the birth canal
correctly and fast enough.
Cerebral palsy is a condition, and not a disease. It’s often a pleasure to work with a unique
patient with special needs. You may get to see the world in a whole new
way. For more information on cerebral
palsy, visit the national cerebral palsy foundation website.
Related: International
Nurses Association
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