Adaptive Devices and Equipment for People with CP

 Posted on April 11, 2024 in Cerebral Palsy

Some people experience pregnancy and childbirth as an enchanting and miraculous period in their lives culminating in the addition of a cooing, healthy baby to their families. However, pregnancy truly is a time full of the unknown, with many mothers-to-be worrying about their babies’ development. Unfortunately, sometimes those worries are well-founded, and a child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy. While people with cerebral palsy can face serious symptoms and challenges throughout their lives, we are fortunate to live in a time of technological advancements that can help challenges be mitigated. This article will offer information about several adaptive devices and equipment for people with cerebral palsy, but if you have a child with this disorder, you should speak with an Illinois birth injury attorney to understand what rights your family might be legally entitled to.

Adaptive Equipment and Devices

Caused by damage to a developing brain, cerebral palsy can present differently in different people. However, some of the most common symptoms include poor muscle control, inability to maintain proper balance or posture, irregular reflexes, or poor muscle tone. While these symptoms can make it very hard to go through life in a world designed for more typically able-bodied individuals, technological innovations have created some amazing devices that can help people with cerebral palsy not only move around but thrive beyond the typical wheelchair. These include:

• Gait trainer: This device that promotes movement can help your child develop walking skills and practice shifting and bearing their body weight, thus strengthening bones and muscles and preventing atrophy.
• Universal cuff: These adaptive tools are attached to everyday items like pencils, cutlery, and toothbrushes, making them easier to grip. These are especially helpful for children with motor impairments, and they promote independence as the children are finally able to do more tasks on their own.
• Communication boards: Speech impairment affects some children with cerebral palsy. This type of board can help them express their desires, thus giving them a voice.
• Nosey cup: This cup with a curve along the top makes it easier for children to drink without needing to tilt their heads back, promoting independent feeding.
• Bath chairs: Poor balance, which is characteristic of some children with cerebral palsy, can make it very hard to sit upright in a bath. This waterproof chair provides support to the back and neck, helping your child stay in place and allowing them to enjoy a nice bath.
• Neurorehabilitation devices: There have been many innovations surrounding software that can help reinforce work done in physical therapy sessions. Programs that turn an exercise routine into an interactive game are an excellent way to motivate someone to continue their home exercises after official therapy sessions.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Chicago, IL Birth Injury Lawyer

If your child has cerebral palsy, speak with a passionate Cook County, IL birth injury attorney. You may be entitled to benefits and allowances aimed at giving your child what they need. At Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd., we offer free consultations, so call us at 312-462-4200 and let us help you understand your rights.