associated conditions

Last reviewed 01/2018

Conditions include:

  • learning disabilities: about 50% of children have a learning disability (1). Note that many children with severe cerebral palsy have normal intelligence, particularly in dyskinetic cerebral palsy

  • neurologic problems:

    • epilepsy occurs in 20-40%; it is most common among the hemi- and tetraplegics (2)
    • visual impairment occurs in about 20% due to errors of refraction, diffuse amblyopia or optic atrophy
    • heariing loss - about 20% of patients have a degree of hearing loss, usually sensorineural. There is a strong association between dyskinetic cerebral palsy and the development of deafness
    • a high incidence of speech disorders among patients with cerebral palsy, due to problems of incoordination of tongue, palate and lip muscles, as well as a result of hearing losses or perceptual defects

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