Cerebral palsy is a disorder that begins in childhood. It is an umbrella term that covers a number of neurological disorders that stem from damage to the brain's cerebral cortex, which is associated with body movement and coordination. Medical advances have allowed children with cerebral palsy to live into adulthood. Before the mid-twentieth century, most children did not survive to reach adulthood. Cerebral palsy presents special challenges to adults who have the disorder, and recognizing the signs can help others to understand those challenges.
Step 1
Look for signs of depression. Depressed cerebral palsy patients will say they're not hungry and also say things out of anger. Signs of depression include moodiness, lack of appetite and an increase in irritability. Adults with cerebral palsy, along with other adults with disabilities, have depression rates that are three to four times higher than average. It is believed that it's not the disability that causes cerebral palsy sufferers to go into depression but the lack of emotional support.
Step 2
Check for signs of fatigue. Adults with cerebral palsy will stop to rest after walking up a short set of stairs. They will fall behind in any walking activity. This is because fatigue for a cerebral palsy patient is a symptom. They will become overly tired after short periods of exertion. Adults with cerebral palsy need to use three to five times the energy of a person who is able-bodied to perform the simple tasks of walking and moving around.
Step 3
Check for hearing and vision problems. Adults with cerebral palsy may ask you to repeat what has been said because their hearing is getting progressively worse. They may also complain about not being able to see things that they could see previously. This is because adults with cerebral palsy are more likely to develop medical conditions than normal adult populations. About 25 to 39 percent of adults with cerebral palsy develop vision problems. Also, 8 to 18 percent of adults with cerebral palsy develop hearing problems. Other medical conditions that cerebral palsy sufferers experience are incontinence and bladder dysfunction.
Step 4
Check for signs of early aging. Adults with cerebral palsy will hunch over and be less and less able to push themselves out of their chairs. Because of the stress on the body that cerebral palsy imposes, most cerebral palsy patients will experience some form of early aging by the time they reach their 40s. Early aging signs can include degradation of skeletal structure and muscle tone.
Step 5
Watch for decreasing effectiveness at work. Adults with cerebral palsy might have a decreasing work output, whether it's the number of reports written, typing speed or orders placed. The work output will depend on the occupation. Although the disorder itself doesn't progress, adults with cerebral palsy will face challenges that are increasingly difficult at their places of employment. Some of these challenges can be accommodated with flexible work hours and equipment that can assist them, such as wheelchairs. For some adults with cerebral palsy, early retirement might be the only option.
Tips and Warnings
- Adults with cerebral palsy benefit from frequent visits to a physician because of the special medical conditions that a doctor can monitor.
