Cerebral palsy can be defined as failure of neuromuscular coordination in psychological and medical terms, people with cerebral palsy have difficulty coordinating their movements daily, and the reasons for cerebral palsy can be defined as the abnormal or underdeveloped growth of the brain while the child is in the mother’s womb. In today’s time, cerebral palsy can be defined as the most common disorder that has been traced among people, it was earlier thought that cerebral palsy was a result of birth complications but with the advancement of research and progress in the medical field people have begun to realize that cerebral palsy is not something that arises during the process of birth, but it is something that has been existing before birth.

A very well-known psychologist who has been assisting patients with cerebral palsy treatment in Punjab has listed down and broken a few myths that will make people more aware of the disease and its nature.

Busting myths about Cerebral Palsy

  1. Cerebral palsy is insanity: One of the best pediatric orthopedic doctors in Punjab shares his experience as he says “ I have seen children who are extremely good in their career and are class toppers but they find it difficult to make friends, they come and tell me “ Nobody is ready to be my friend “ the prime reason the children of other parents have been telling their children to avoid “ Mad children”. Let me make this very clear cerebral palsy has nothing to do with a person’s analytical reasoning and logical thinking or even one’s emotional intelligence it is just failure to coordinate between the nerves and the muscles.”
  2. Cerebral palsy is infectious – Saying that cerebral palsy is infectious is just like saying AIDS can spread through mosquito bites. Cerebral palsy occurs within the mother’s womb and not after birth and hence cannot be transferred, just the way property and money that is acquired from parents cannot be transferred unless someone is willing to similarly cerebral palsy is one hundred percent noncommunicable.
  3. Cerebral palsy is permanent and incurable: To some extent the myth is true but for people with cerebral palsy over a course of time if the person is treated with a nutritious diet, medication, and routine checkups then the symptoms can be reduced up to an extent.
  4. Cerebral palsy deteriorates the brain: No it is not true because cerebral palsy as a process does not lead to further degeneration of the brain, the damage done to the brain is permanent but the symptoms can be tamed over some time to let the patient lead a happy and worry-free life.

How can we help a person with cerebral palsy and make their lives easier??

  1. The first and the most important step for cerebral palsy treatment is to not isolate the person who is suffering from the disease, because once you tend to isolate the person then it tends to affect the mental state of the person and thus often can be the reason for low self-esteem.
  2. Teachers in schools and lecturers in colleges should encourage other children to be friends with the patient and also encourage them to assist them in their daily tasks to assist them.