Subject: | |
From: | |
Reply To: | St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List |
Date: | Sun, 19 Jun 2005 07:34:19 -0400 |
Content-Type: | text/plain |
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
I think it's hard for many doctors to realise just how diverse CP symptoms are
and just how diffuse they are. I've often had to respond to a doctor who
would blithely say, "This works for my other CP patients" or to one who'd say
puzzled, "But none of my other CP patients show this" with "Yes, but no two
CP patients are exactly alike!," which is very true.
Incidentially, that's what my neuro confirmed the other day - since CP is the
effect of brain damage, and since brain damage is so variable, and since our
reactions are so individual, you can't neatly classify a CP person any more.
It used to be we were classified as rigid spastics, etc. (that was in my
childhood, y'see) and then as paraplegic, etc, and now it's being recognised
that along with those major neuromuscular categories come another group of
disabilites and previously unnoticed audio and visual symptoms that affect
balance and motor control. I wonder if the day will ever come when a "CP
Specialist" is truely a multidisciplinarian and not mainly an orthorpaedist
or a neurologist, etc.
I don't have problems with my vision as to navigation but since I am severely
hard of hearing that does affect my balance. You need to check all the
possiibilities and explore everything to do everything you can.
Kat
|
|
|