| Will science find a cure for CP? The answer is | | | | neglect as well as overt child abuse. Often, the care |
| complex. Since CP is actually a set of symptoms | | | | of children with CP can be quite taxing emotionally |
| associated with a variety of causes, potential | | | | and financially on the family. The appropriate care for |
| treatments will have to be manifold. Recent scientific | | | | children with CP, therefore, must take into account |
| findings have brought a ray of hope to an otherwise | | | | mental health and financial support for families and |
| dreary outlook. Many scientists are now focusing on | | | | caregivers. Many state-run programs provide |
| recent discoveries that suggest we will be able to | | | | out-of-home schooling as well as respite care for the |
| replace lost or damaged brain cells. While such | | | | caregivers, but these services often falls short of |
| therapies are not yet available, it is likely that real | | | | what is truly needed. Healthcare practitioners can |
| clinical trials will begin in the next 5 to 10 years. | | | | very simply improve the lives of their patients by |
| It cannot be overemphasized that the most | | | | taking some extra time to listen to the concerns and |
| important person in the lives of children with CP is | | | | hopes of the caregivers and provide thoughtful |
| their caregiver. The caregiver, whether a parent or | | | | answers to their questions. |
| other person, must be able to recognize a child's | | | | We must recognize that many, and possibly most, |
| needs and provide for him or her in a loving, positive | | | | children with CP can lead full, meaningful, and happy |
| environment. Because of the difficulty that many | | | | lives. The team of parents, caregivers, and health |
| children with CP have in expressing their needs, they | | | | practitioners have the responsibility to help the child |
| are at great risk for unintentional and intentional | | | | with CP achieve this goal. |