This site is intended to provide information on the associated conditions of cerebral palsy.
In order for children to communicate regularly and without difficulty, they must be able to take in complex auditory information and process it in a timely manner. Once interpreted, the child must then be able to formulate a verbal response and have sufficient control over the muscles of the mouth and throat to give sound to their thoughts. The ability to hold a conversation is taken for granted by most people who do not have to struggle through any of the above actions.
Many children with cerebral palsy suffer from associated conditions which can inhibit one or more of the processes involved with communication.
Hearing impairment is an obvious cause of communication problems. It can take significant effort for the child to compensate for their hearing loss through the use of hearing aids or the ability to read lips.
Poor motor control of the mouth (a possible direct symptom of cerebral palsy) can make it extremely difficult to form words clearly and quickly.
Other conditions such as sensory integration dysfunction can slow down the ability to decipher and make sense of other's speech. Also, Behavioral conditions such as short attention span or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can make it hard for a child to hold a conversation for any length of time.