Cerebral Palsy Prognosis

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Most children with cerebral palsy have a good prognosis and can expect to live well into adulthood. The prognosis for cerebral palsy is different for every individual diagnosed because the condition is so varied in terms of symptoms and severity.[1] Early diagnosis and treatment are most important for improving a child’s outlook.

What Does a Cerebral Palsy Prognosis Mean?

A prognosis describes how a disease or condition will likely progress or affect an individual throughout their life. It can include specific details like expected life expectancy and also more general predictions of quality of life.

For parents of a child with a cerebral palsy diagnosis, a prognosis gives them an idea of what to expect.

The Importance of Getting a Cerebral Palsy Prognosis

For parents and their children, a diagnosis of cerebral palsy should be followed by extensive evaluations, interventions, and treatment plans, which can impact the overall prognosis. Understanding the prognosis will help you know how to plan for the future.

Any discussion of prognosis should include multiple factors, such as expected and predicted disabilities, medical complications, quality of life, and life expectancy.[2]

What Is the Prognosis for Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a highly variable condition. Every individual has a unique set of symptoms, disabilities, and associated conditions. For this reason, it is challenging to determine an exact prognosis or to make a prognosis that fits every patient. 

Parents can consult with doctors and specialists to identify and manage all symptoms, disabilities, complications, and associated disorders that a child develops. This will ensure that the child receives the best and most appropriate interventions in a timely manner, optimizing potential outcomes for that child.

While parents cannot know exactly what the future will be for their child with a cerebral palsy diagnosis, it may help to understand some statistics about large populations of children living with the condition.

According to a review of over 1,300 studies:[3]

• Seventy-five percent of children with cerebral palsy experience some level of pain.
• Fifty percent of children with cerebral palsy have some degree of intellectual disability.
• One-third of children cannot walk.
• One-third of children with cerebral palsy have hip displacement.
• One in four children with the condition cannot talk.
• One in four has epilepsy.
• One-quarter of children struggle with bladder control.
• One in four has a behavioral challenge.
• One out of ten children with cerebral palsy is blind.
• One in 15 children has to be tube-fed.
• One out of 25 is deaf.

These are just a few of the potential complications a child with cerebral palsy may have and the prevalence of each. Every child is unique, and the prognosis for that particular child could be vastly different from what is expected from the research data.

Even with these complications, the forecast for quality of life or the ability to be independent is not pre-determined. There are many ways parents and doctors can improve the outlook with treatment. Children stay healthy and active with the right support and interventions.[4]

How to Improve the Outlook for a Child with Cerebral Palsy

The good news about predicting the future for children with cerebral palsy is that it is never permanent. Delivering an exact prognosis for a child is impossible.

This means that parents and individuals can and should feel empowered to improve their overall outlook and expectations for the future.

Parents must learn all they can about their child’s particular diagnosis with its accompanying disabilities and complications to improve prognosis. Evaluations by specialists can help determine any hearing or vision loss, breathing difficulties, intellectual disabilities, mobility issues, and more.

With this knowledge, parents can then ensure their child receives the best and most timely interventions for those issues. Working closely with specialists and therapists is critical to deriving the best outcome.

Treatment is crucial, but it is just one part of improving prognosis. Parents should also encourage and teach their children to be independent, social with other children, do their best at school, accept and celebrate their differences, develop a positive attitude, and learn how to compensate for and live with their disabilities.

These factors go a long way toward a better quality of life, even when it is impossible to improve symptoms further.

Early Intervention Improves Prognosis

The earlier these steps can be taken to improve the function and quality of life, the better the outcome will be. While cerebral palsy is not a progressive condition that will get worse over time, there are benefits to diagnosing and managing it as early as possible in a child’s life.

Early intervention can help minimize disruptions to normal development, which could otherwise cause lifelong problems and complications.[5]

For instance, some children have intellectual or learning disabilities. Treating these early with educational interventions provides a child with the tools necessary to thrive in the learning environment despite those disabilities. The same applies to children with speech delays and hearing or vision loss.

There are also many complications and health problems that a child with cerebral palsy may develop. These conditions may be progressive or may trigger other issues. Catching and managing them early might slow progression, reverse the course of a health issue, or prevent new problems.

For example, a child may have epilepsy or digestive issues, medical problems that can be treated and managed before they worsen or lead to further complications.

Mobility is a significant issue for children with cerebral palsy and can be improved with early interventions. Studies have found, for instance, that when a child receives therapy at a young age and learns to stand and sit without assistance, the possibility of eventually learning to walk is improved.

Mobility problems can present significant barriers in a child’s life. Getting treatment, including physical therapy, surgery if indicated, and other strategies is essential.

These may increase a child’s ability to walk, have less pain, take care of activities of daily living, participate in the educational experience, and have greater independence.

Life Expectancy in Cerebral Palsy

The last thing a parent wants to consider is a child’s life expectancy, but it is an important issue to consider and face early on. A child with cerebral palsy may have any number of associated disorders or disabilities that can impact life span.

Having complete knowledge and understanding of these factors allows parents to work with medical professionals to make a plan to minimize any detrimental effect on the child’s growth and development into adulthood.

Live Expectancy and Cerebral Palsy Severity

The severity of the condition is the most important factor in considering life expectancy. The more severe the cerebral palsy, the lower the life expectancy for that child. Severe symptoms put children at risk for more complications that can affect their life span.

Life Expectancy and Associated Conditions

Another factor is the number and type of associated conditions a child has. A child with cerebral palsy may have one or more complications or disabilities that have the potential to limit life expectancy.

These include reduced vision or hearing, seizure disorders, feeding difficulties, growth restriction, respiratory disorders, intellectual disabilities, behavioral concerns, communication challenges, and limited mobility.

Cerebral Palsy Life Expectancy Statistics

In one study of over 1,200 children with cerebral palsy, researchers found that 86% to 89% lived to be 20 or older. For children without severe disabilities, this statistic was closer to 99%.[6]

Cerebral palsy is a complex neurological condition. The initial damage that caused it will not worsen as a child ages, but many complications may progress over the child’s life if ignored.

The prognosis for a particular child is difficult to determine. Still, parents can substantially help their children by improving their quality of life, mobility, independence, and other factors by using early intervention and appropriate treatment.