True or False?  Children with CP always demonstrate mental retardation.

Answer:  False.  Children with CP always demonstrate motor development delay; however, only one third demonstrate a moderate or severe level of intellectual impairment.  Another third is mildly intellectually impaired, and one third does not demonstrate any intellenctual impairment.


True or False?  Children with Cerebral Palsy need a special diet.

Answer:  True.  Children with CP may benefit from having a special diet.  In particular, children with Athetoid CP use so much energy that they require multiple meals throughout the day that are high in fat and calories.  In other cases, difficulty with eating and swallowing may cause poor nutrition.  A well-balanced diet is a must for developing children.  Some children require tube feeding to ensure healthy growth.


True or False?  All children with CP are sick more often than typically developing children.

Answer:  False.  Children with CP are generally healthy.  In cases where the child has poor lung development and poor immune system due to prematurity, they are more prone to contract diseases often.


True or False?  Children wth CP are more likely be non-verbal.

Answer:  False.  There are many children with CP whose speech and language development is not affected by the brain damage.  In particular, children with traumatic brain injury may suffer from aphasia that also has many forms.  In quadriplegia cases, the child may be able to learn to speak once the muscle spasticity decreases.


True or False?  Children with CP suffer from muscle and joint pain.

Answer:  True.  Children with CP–depending on their involvement–experience muscle aches ranging from discomfort to severe pain.  Anti-spasticity drugs, warm baths, and massages may ease the pain.