Of all other developmental disabilities, Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a condition that is made up of various problems; such as changes in body movements, muscle stiffness, and balance disorders. Different cases of the sickness will affect different people in various ways, and the main problem that will be faced in many of the cases will be the laziness which can be a big hindrance to their ways of life.
Nevertheless, there are ways for people with CP (cerebral palsy) to live independently and live a better life, and in this regard, OT (occupational therapy) is the profession that is indispensable in this state. This paper will analyze how occupational therapy can specifically support people with cerebral palsy by offering them needed solutions to the issues that they deem integral to their lives.
Understanding Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurological disorder that happens due to the brain becoming injured at one time or the other: may be by happening in the womb, by mishap during birth, or by the happening of incidents after birth. This involves the involuntary control of the muscles or motor skills but may also exist together with other disabilities such as intellectual or communicational loss, sensory and/or motor crisis.
CP is a highly individualized case and hence it leads to a different way of living for each; some people may have a problem with the little muscles with their movements, while others may be struggling with the issue of putting down items in a straight line. It matters for the design of personalized therapeutic programs that are stimulating.
The Role of Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy is a very broad field of therapy, which aims at the physical treatment of patients by improving their potential in everyday activities. Cerebral palsy patients receive help from an expert therapist who, like in a Bildung process, starts by the therapist of their operation who determines the clients’ limits for the patients who tell them in the end which way is better for the therapists.
The OT’s aim is to achieve personal development through helping individuals to develop skills in areas such as self-care, mobility, communication, and social interaction. The self-care through school time to cerebral palsy patients is by the method of being a self-directed oral hygiene agent that will later be a major factor for better performance.
Some of the procedures for Self-care are such as the habits of: brushing our teeth, dressing ourselves and combing our hair, as well as the human survival necessities without which one would not be able to be independent. The OT professionals employ the aforementioned strategies to improve self-care routines for a specific person.
New tactics have been created in a way that allows the individual to be self-sufficient. They can offer items like dressing aids or utensils that are modified and meet the needs of each person respectively; hence through this they gain more independence with regards to their self-care routines.
Improvement of the fine and gross motor skills makes the human body movements more comfortable for daily life. The methods that are mostly used on clients are the power-training exercises that are aimed at strengthening muscles and improving balance and agility.
A nonverbal intelligence game, which constitutes a set of exercises done with and for children addressing issues like balance and motor control involving various fun activities through therapy, may also be a tool to use. As a case in point, children are capable of perfecting hand-eye coordination and dexterity through recreational activities such as sculptings and painting, during which time they can enjoy themselves and learn more about it.
Occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists often join efforts to assist people with such disabilities in finding alternative means of communication such as through a picture exchange communication system or speech-generating devices. This collaboration guarantees that they are able to communicate what they want and what they need, thereby creating stronger social ties and fostering a better quality of life.
Encouraging Social Interaction
It is indeed rewarding to see children with cerebral palsy acquire necessary social skills to form reliable relationships while also being able to venture out in the community stress-free. On the other hand, occupational therapists usually convene groups to engage in therapy sessions with children with cerebral palsy and employ sociodramatic play therapy to enhance social interactions. In these contexts, the main points to discuss are group work, communication, and complementary activities which on the one hand develop the sense of togetherness.
However, those kids who take part in controlled group activities still run the risk of missing the mark when it comes to mastering the necessary social skills. Apart from the support for cerebral palsy, the help of a psychologist or a therapist becomes the motivational force for these children to try out the activities and even make new friends.
Creating a Supportive Environment
After all, preparing children with CP will not only include changing their environment but also carrying out a more extensive sustainable environmental plan. In this way, occupational therapists can help in solving problems related to the house environment and also make environmental changes, which are to be carried out at the user level.
The suggested modifications can range from the construction of grab bars in the washrooms to the installation of sensory rooms that are personalized to meet the child’s unique sensory needs. Moreover, these home environments can flow better and the individuals will move around as they wish, due to stimuli that are designed to their understanding.
Conclusion
The above mentioned as the ‘teaching the child with CP sensory integration and compensatory methods in their homes’ are absolutely impelling. The former, though difficult, will be even more successful in case it is combined with the increased hands-on help of a therapist. Nevertheless, one of the chief roles of the person is to develop the child by empowering him in the compensatory and motor aspects, and especially the interpersonal sphere in his own way, and occupational therapists definitely should be the one to do that.
The whole walking-with-cerebral-palsy-rocks sufferers of these hardships and gives them a different mental mindset by adding therapy options that are tailor-made. However, the completion of this therapy program will not only bring a more efficient motor system but also it will result in a more fulfilling life for individuals with this disorder.
