Cerebral Palsy and Sexuality

Western culture has always portrayed sex as taboo for anyone, disabled or not, and for many years it was assumed that people with disabilities were asexual, or that they did not have a desire for sexual intimacy. This, of course, is quite false. Disabled or not, every person has sexual urges that are completely biological and inevitable. Many parents feel quite awkward toward discussing the topics of sex, sexual maturation and masturbation with their adolescents. This can be especially uncomfortable if your child is physically restricted, as it is possible that they will be physically unable to have intercourse. Some people with cerebral palsy tend to have severe muscle cramping and spasms during intercourse, and so it can be more painful than pleasurable in many cases. This does not go for all cerebral palsied persons, as there are many men and women with cerebral palsy who are married and have children.

Even if the actual act of intercourse is not possible for the severely disabled person, sexual intimacy is still possible, and can be quite satisfying. Things such as sensual massage can lead to orgasm, as well as other sexual aids and techniques. When a person is unable to express him or herself sexually , they often do not feel like a whole person. Many times non-disabled people, especially teenagers, may discriminate against disabled people, in that they may consider them as a good friend, but would never consider them as a partner or lover. This can be a very painful cycle of rejection for many people with a disability, and helping your child to have a strong self-esteem is one of the best ways to combat any negative effects such discrimination might have on them.

Cerebral Palsy: Society & Education

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The United Cerebral Palsy Associations estimate that more than 500,000 Americans have cerebral palsy. While this is only a mere .002 % of the overall U.S. population, there are many organizations, both governmental and private, that have been established to help people with cerebral palsy live a successful and fruitful life. One of the biggest problems that arises with cerebral palsy is the transition to school, and then to adulthood. As a child with cerebral palsy, it can be much easier to get the medical help you require to develop at a more normal rate. As an adult, while you may not need developmental assistance, you will still require money, medical attention, and, while perhaps not necessary but still quite important, someone to share your life with.

All of these aspects of living with cerebral palsy, from your first day of school to your first day on the job, can be quite stressful. Before your first day of school, you have to be evaluated, have and Individual Education Plan drawn up for you, and it must be decided whether or not you will attend a special education school or a mainstream school. And beyond that, these decisions must be re-visited at least every year. Once you have completed your educational career, your wishes, as with most other adults, disabled or not, will likely be to be able to live independently and get a job, regardless of whether or not you have government funds. Once you have gone through the process of finding a way to live on your own , and once you have found a job, it is likely that you will desire companionship on a deeper level. Sexuality can be hard for people with cerebral palsy to express, mainly because of the societal taboo of people with disabilities being sexual, but it doesn’t have to be.

Keiths Story

Here is a ink to a wonderful story about an intelligent young man with cerebra palsy I felt that this was beyond accomplishment.

http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/brain_nervous/keith_story.html

Family: Your Son or Daughter with Cerebral Palsy

Any change within a family has the potential to create stress in the family situation. When children are involved, it can sometimes seem like a wise thing to hide the facts to avoid an emotional meltdown. This, however, is never the way to go about bringing your children into the reality of change. Since the unknown is always worse than the known, you should always give your children enough information to ease their fears.

You don ‘t need to get technical, but give them information appropriate to their age-levels. For instance, if you are helping your cerebral palsied child with some exercises to help with their movement and muscle tone, their siblings may be curious. Instead of trying to explain the physiological reasons behind the exercises, you might say, “They need some extra special exercises to help their legs get stronger”, or “Their muscles don’t work the same as yours, try not to tell you children half-truths, even if it seems easier at the time. Even if one answer may be easier for you to explain why your child is crying, saying he’s sad when it is because of his cerebral palsy will only further confuse his siblings. Assuring your children that their sibling cannot die for cerebral palsy is important, as they will no-doubt quickly sense that something is wrong due to the frequent visits to many different doctors and therapists. You should also try to reassure your child that it is okay to feel strongly about their sibling’s disability, and that it isn’t anyone’s fault that they have cerebral palsy. Remember, a straightforward approach diffuses fear and helps your child feel important and a vital part of the care-giving.

Once you have explained your child’s disability to your other children, you should still expect to have to re-explain it. Even once they understand that their sibling is disabled, they still may not know what their sibling can and cannot do, and as the disabled child grows and becomes stronger or begins to master the use of special mechanical aids and communications devices, what they can and cannot do will change drastically. You can help this process of understanding along by periodically pointing out your disabled child’s small victories to his or her brothers and sisters. For instance, “Remember when he couldn’t walk? Now he can run on his crutches!” Not only will this help them to better understand their sibling’s progress, it will also be positive reinforcement of their attitudes and feelings towards their disabled sibling.

As a parent, having a new child with special needs can be overwhelming, and having other children in the home already can lead to much competing for attention, even when the newborn is not disabled. Be assured that this is a normal reaction for older siblings, and as long as you do your best to balance the attention, it should eventually dissipate. Having a child with special needs means that they may not always be able to accompany the family on special outings. For instance, if your family has planned to go on a picnic, but there is quite a lot of hiking required to get there, it is likely your child with cerebral palsy will not be able to go. Instead of canceling the whole family outing, as the other siblings may feel they are suffering on the behalf of your cerebral palsied child’s enjoyment, have one family member stay home and plan a special activity for just the two of them. This will help to avoid possible resentment by other siblings.

Please visit www.cerebralpalsy.org/family  it is a great site.

Types, Signs, and Symptoms in Persons with Cerebral Palsy

           This is a picture of a teen with cerebral palsy who made principal's list at his high school. He is definitely a star.

Spastic Cerebral Palsy is the most common type of CP. People with spastic CP can't relax their muscles or the muscles may be stiff. Athetoid Cerebral Palsy affects the ability to control the muscles of the body. A person's arms or legs may flutter and move suddenly, and Ataxic. People with ataxic Cerebral Palsy have problems with balance and coordination. Their movements may seem shaky.

Common signs of severe Cerebral Palsy  that may be noticed shortly after birth include, problems sucking and swallowing, a weak or shrill cry, seizures, and unusual positions. Often the body is either very relaxed and floppy or very stiff. When held, babies may arch their backs and extend their arms and legs. Some problems related to Cerebral Palsy become more evident over time or develop as a child grows. For example, smaller muscles are effected in the arms or legs, the Nervous system problems prevent movement in affected arms and legs, Inactivity affects muscle growth, Abnormal sensations and perceptions, though some people with Cerebral Palsy feel pain when touched lightly. Even everyday activities, such as brushing teeth, may hurt. Abnormal sensations can also make it hard to identify common objects by touch, such as feeling the difference between a soft foam ball and a hard baseball.Drooling is common when facial and throat muscles are affected. Drooling irritates the skin, particularly around the mouth, chin, and chest.

Children who have difficulty brushing their teeth have increased risk of developing cavities and gum disease such as, gingivitis. Seizure medicines may also contribute toward developing gum disease. Falls and other accidents are a risk, depending on muscle control, joint stiffness, and general physical strength. Also, CP-related seizures can cause accidental injuries.Infections and long-term illnesses. Adults with CP are at a higher risk for heart and lung disease. For example, severe CP causes problems with eating. If food is inhaled into the lungs, the risk of lung infection or pneumonia increases.

When people look at an individual that may be different they are automatically considered un-normal, but what is normal? the fact that are legs are longer or we can make rational decisions, I believe everyone is different being that you are diabled or not. With the proper assistance being disabled is just a label and it shouldn’t be a burden for the person to not want to walk outside their homes because they are afraid of what society might say, but still today as a whole we have yet to understand that we should treat each and every person with the same kindness and respect we would treat someone who is “normal”. Yes I understand that as human beings we are afraid of what we do not know, but if we put an effort in trying to understands, I belive the world would be MAGNIFICANT!!

To learn moreon signs and symptoms visit cerebralpalsy.org › About Cerebral Palsy



Cerebral palsy is a brain disorder that affects coordination of body movements and muscle tone. People with cereal palsy may have difficulty with everyday activities, such as walking or dressing, given that the condition affects muscle control. These difficulties can make adolescence very challenging for a teen with cerebral palsy.Teens with more severe physical limitations have more health concerns and more difficulty with everyday functions, as reported by a study in the March 2009 issue of "Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology" by Dr. Elsie Davis and her colleagues. Changes in height and weight can affect mobility and balance. Accepting physical limitations relates to a higher quality of life. About 65 percent of teenage girls and 50 percent of teenage boys report having pain, according to a study in the Spring 2010 issue of "Pediatric Physical Therapy". The pain occurs most commonly felt in the feet, ankles, knees and lower back. Pain can interfere with everyday activities, such as walking and being able to focus on homework. Being accepted by peers helps give teens with cerebral palsy a sense of belonging, according to the study by Dr. Elsie Davis. Teens with cerebral palsy may feel frustrated or discouraged by being ignored by peers or having awkward interactions with others. In comparison to teens without a disability, teens with cerebral palsy often become more isolated, less socially active and have fewer sexual relationships, as noted by a review of research in the December 2006 edition of "Clinical Rehabilitation." Barriers to social and sexual relationships among teens with cerebral palsy include physical limitations, negative social experiences and poor self-esteem.

Here is also a link where teens that live their lives with Cerebral Palsy everyday
www.teencerebralpalsy.com