How To Set Realistic Goals for Children With Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy can be diagnosed in infancy or early childhood.Setting treatment goals for a child with Cerebral palsy can help maximize their capabilities and quality of life.Work with professionals who can help you and your child set realistic, attainable goals.Help yourself and your child set better goals by learning what treatment options are available.
Step 1: Immediately after their diagnosis, begin working on treatment goals.
Early treatment helps kids with cerebral palsy achieve the best quality of life.Set up an appointment with your child's doctor as soon as possible.If your child is still an infant, you can work on setting basic care and treatment goals with their doctor.Talk to your doctor about what goals are appropriate for your child.
Step 2: Discuss your child's symptoms with their doctor.
Each patient is different.It is important to understand your child's needs, strengths, and limitations before setting goals for them.To get a clear understanding of your child's condition and what therapies will work best for them, work with their doctor.Before an appointment with your child's doctor, write down any concerns and questions you want to bring up with the doctor.Write down any symptoms your child is having.Gather any relevant information or documents about your child's medical history, such as lab test results, imaging scans, and medical records from other healthcare providers.Take into account any personal challenges your child may be facing at the moment, such as stress related to school or home life.
Step 3: Discuss treatment goals with your child's healthcare team.
Both long- and short-term goals can be developed by the medical specialists on your child's care team.If your child has specific needs, these goals might include preventing the development of respiratory diseases.Strengthening the muscles involved in chewing and swallowing can be done to maximize your child's nutrition.Preparing your child for a medical procedure.
Step 4: Discuss pain management goals with your child's doctor.
Children with Cerebral palsy can experience pain.The best way to manage your child's pain depends on their circumstances.Your child's doctor can help you understand your options and set realistic goals.It is possible to set a goal of using physical therapy-based pain management to reduce your child's need for pain medications.
Step 5: Establish mobility goals with the help of a physical therapist.
Your child can benefit from physical therapy.Ask your doctor to recommend a child's physical therapist.The physical therapist can help set goals for your child.Do you think physical therapy can help Lucy learn to stand?
Step 6: An Individualized Education Plan can help set academic goals.
A child with Cerebral palsy can benefit from an Individualized Education Plan.Find out how to enroll your child in an Individualized Education Program by talking to the school administration.A team of special education professionals will work with you and your child to develop a plan that will address the physical and developmental needs of the child.Your child is assessed for their current academic skill level.How to measure your child's progress.Meeting your child's academic goals can be difficult.Determining what instructional methods will benefit your child the most.How to best meet your child's other needs.How you can help your child excel in school.
Step 7: Establish communication goals with a speech and language therapist.
Communication skills are important to your child's independence, sense of well-being, and ability to work and socialize with others.A speech and language therapist can help you and your child set realistic goals.Talk to your child's speech and language therapist about what is realistic for them.You could say that Emma struggles with expressing herself.Is it possible that we can help her with her speech?Is she a good choice for a voice synthesizer?
Step 8: Establish goals with your child.
A good social life can help your child.Ensure that your child's teachers find ways to socialize in school by working with them.Basic socialization goals can be set by you and your child.Trips to the grocery store might be one of the things you plan to take your child on.Play dates can be arranged with other kids from your child's school.Signing your child up for an activity that interests them is important.You should take your child out to a public area at least once a week.At family gatherings, make sure your child eats with the rest of the group.If your child is having trouble setting and meeting social goals, a behavioral therapist or psychologist may be able to help.
Step 9: You can get help from an occupational therapist.
Occupational therapists help people deal with challenging daily life activities.Ask your child's doctor to recommend an occupational therapist with experience helping children with cerebral palsy.Discuss your child's specific challenges and expectations with the occupational therapist.You could say, "Jude is trying to learn to dress himself, but he has trouble pulling a shirt on over his head."In addition to helping your child do exercises and develop practical strategies, the occupational therapist may be able to recommend devices that can help them reach their goals.
Step 10: Improving fine motor control is something that needs to be improved.
Cerebral palsy makes it difficult for children with the condition to do certain tasks, such as holding eating utensils or writing.If you want your child to be able to grasp small objects with their fingers, talk to their occupational therapist about setting goals.Fine motor control is required to push a coin into a slot.Hand-eye coordination is required in drawing or playing catch.
Step 11: The focus should be on building strength and stability in the upper body.
A lack of strength and stability in the upper body is a problem for children with Cerebral palsy.Your child can perform tasks such as dressing themselves or pouring water from a pitcher into a glass if occupational therapy focuses on improving these areas.Specific strength and stability goals can be set by your child's occupational therapist.She can't raise her arms high enough to brush her hair.Can we help her with that?
Step 12: Specific self-care and independence goals can be set.
Your child's occupational therapist can help you set general goals, such as building upper body strength or improving coordination.You can work with your child to achieve more narrowly defined goals.Your child's self-care goals might include brushing their own teeth, depending on their age, limitations, and abilities.There is no help turning pages in a book.They were tying their shoelaces.Taking a shower or going to the bathroom on your own.The food is being prepared.Using a computer.
Step 13: Make your goals realistic.
Specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time bound goals are the easiest to achieve.Setting goals that are too vague can lead to frustration for you and your child.If you want to see if a 14-week power training program improves her mobility, talk to her physical therapist about it.
Step 14: Ask the child to set their own goals.
It is important that children with Cerebral palsy feel involved in their own treatment and development.Talk to your child about what goals they want to achieve for themselves, and work with their care team to develop strategies for achieving those goals.Help your child formulate goals by asking them questions and encouraging them to talk about areas of their life that are important to them.You could ask your child what they would like to try at school.
Step 15: Your child's care team can assess their progress.
Track your child's progress as you work towards your goals.In meetings with members of your child's care team, make note of any major successes and setbacks.Talking about the possibility of trying a different approach if your child is struggling to meet a particular goal is a good idea.It is possible to change your goals or expectations.Discuss new approaches to the problem during a brainstorm with your child's care team.Discuss their care team with your child if they are old enough.They might be able to give important insights into what works for them.
Step 16: Be patient.
It can take your child longer to accomplish a goal than you thought.It is normal for you and your child to become frustrated along the way.If you need to take a break, stop what you are doing.Even if they don't have much success at first, always praise your child for working towards a goal.You want to support them in any way you can, so let them know that you are always there for them.
Step 17: Help your child deal with setbacks.
It's inevitable that there will be challenges and setbacks as you work toward a goal.You can help your child deal with their feelings of disappointment, frustration and stress by observing their moods and noticing when they are experiencing stress or negative emotions related to difficulty meeting their goals.Encourage your child to talk about how they are feeling.Listen to your child and listen to their feelings.It sounds like you're really frustrated right now.It is ok to feel that way.When your child wants it, offer positive touch, such as hugs, high-fives, or pats on the back.
Step 18: You should celebrate your child's progress.
Acknowledging your child's achievements can increase their sense of well-being.The effort your child is putting in towards achieving a goal is more important than the end result.They will be encouraged to push their boundaries and keep working towards their goals.You might say that you are getting better at using your crutches.All the work you have been doing is paying off.
Step 19: When you need help, turn to your support network.
It can be difficult to help a child with Cerebral palsy.If you find yourself overwhelmed, reach out to your friends and family.A support group for parents of kids with cerebral palsy is recommended by your child's doctor.If you're struggling emotionally or need practical advice on time management, you should see a therapist.
Step 20: Common symptoms can be researched and how they might change.
If you know what your child is facing, you can set better goals.Books and websites are supported by recognized medical organizations.Ask your child's doctor about the typical symptoms of the disease and how they might change over time.Symptoms include excessively stiff or loose muscles.There were tremors.There is a lack of coordination.Involuntary movements are movements that are slow or fast.Difficult with gross motor skills, such as crawling or walking.There are delays in motor development.It's difficult to speak and eat.Seizures.Intellectual disabilities, vision or hearing impairments, or mental health disorders may be experienced by some children.
Step 21: Prepare for possible problems related to CP.
Depending on the type and severity of your child's symptoms, they may be at risk for developing a variety of secondary conditions.Discuss ways to prevent or manage possible problems with your child's doctor.Problems with Skeletal Development due to excessively stiff muscles are one of the more common problems of CP.Some people with the condition are more prone to break bones.Malnutrition can be caused by difficulties with eating or swallowing.Depression and anxiety are mental health conditions related to stress.There are lung diseases.Imbalances in the eye muscles can cause vision problems.
Step 22: Discuss your child's strengths and challenges.
You know your child better than anyone else.Pay attention to the therapies and strategies that seem to work best for them.Take these insights into doctor's appointments and meetings with other members of the care team.You might say to your child's doctor, "I have noticed that he can time his steps with the beat when he listens to music."Can you recommend someone who does music therapy for kids with Cerebral palsy?