Cerebral Palsy - 5 Common Myths (I encounter)
Whenever I tell someone that I have Cerebral Palsy (CP), I find two things: 1). People don't believe me. 2.) When they finally believe me, they have many misconceptions about Cerebral Palsy.
I want to dissipate some of the most common myths and share important facts about Cerebral Palsy for this first blog post.
Myth 1
Everyone with Cerebral palsy has an intellectual disability.
FALSE- Cerebral Palsy mainly affects movement, coordination, and posture. According to research on people with CP by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders in the U.S., 30-50% have an intellectual disability. The other 50-70% have average to above-average intellectual capacity.
Myth 2
Cerebral Palsy is a disease.
FALSE- Cerebral Palsy is not a disease. Cerebral Palsy is a disorder that affects the motor system resulting from damage to the brain that occurs before, during, and after birth. Depending on the damaged area of a child's brain, it results in challenges with coordination, posture, balance, and abnormal movement patterns.
Myth 3
Cerebral Palsy gets worse over time.
FALSE- Cerebral Palsy in its self does not get worse over time; it remains static. However, depending on the brain injury, children and adults with CP may have other medical problems such as epilepsy, ADHD, and scoliosis. In addition, they might also have limitations in vision, hearing, speech, and swallowing.
Myth 4
Cerebral Palsy is always visible
FALSE- No case of Cerebral palsy looks the same across the spectrum. For example, while some can walk unassisted with a minor limp, others may use assistive technology to get around. Regardless, I advise you to avoid making assumptions about people's disabilities.
Myth 5
Adults with Cerebral Palsy cannot have kids.
FALSE- I remember asking both my primary care doctor and my orthopedic surgeon early on, and they said that having Cerebral Palsy does not affect fertility. Also, it's important to note that an individual with Cerebral Palsy does not genetically pass CP to their baby.
Cerebral Palsy is not “one size fits all.” Every case is different. And everyone with Cerebral Palsy has a different experience. By dissipating myths and sharing facts about Cerebral Palsy, we get one step closer to better understand it.
Listen every week for a new episode of the Cerebral Palsy Answers Podcast- Coming Soon!
*The purpose of my blog is purely informational. For specific medical and treatment advice, consult a qualified healthcare professional
