Sensory problems & CP
27 Feb
I am just wondering if anyone out there with CP relates to these problems as well. I would love to hear from you.
Unfortunately it’s very common for people like myself who have Cerebral Palsy to experience abnormal sensation and perception. This is something that I have experienced all of my life, although I have only been able to make sense of it since my CP was diagnosed and I’ve done more research. The source is the central nervous system damage. No two people with CP will experience exactly the same sensory problems, because different parts of the brain are affected.
It’s also common for children with CP to have visual and hearing problems. This is different from having a physical inability that prevents someone being able to hear or see things. When a child has a visual processing deficit, it means that they have a hard time finding the words for objects they are viewing. If a child is asked to go and get an object, they might look at it and then say they can’t find it. This is because they are seeing it, but their brains are not processing what’s in front of them.
Similarly hearing integration problems are the same, the child hears what you say but the brain does not process it in a way that is meaningful. Indeed it may take several minutes for what you have said to click with the child and make sense. With little help out there and with our CP symptoms differing, it’s very hard for others to accept this is what we genuinely have to deal with on a daily basis.
People find it difficult to understand how CP can affect us in these ways and in my experience I am not sure others will ever truly grasp these implications.
Good post. I don’t think my son has CP but he does have frontal lobe atrophy. He has SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder) and has no hearing on the right side due to malformation of his ear. Some of the symptoms you describe sound like him though.
When I ask him to get something he can walk right by it and see it but won’t get it, he gets something else. He also has bad ADD and I have to repeat myself several times until he understands what I’m saying.
It’s very hard to deal with it sometimes but I’ve learned to be VERY patient with him on these issues.
Thanks Lisa. What your son has does sound very similar to what I have. You’re absolutely right on your approach… it will help both of you in the longer term.
Because it’s not something that can be helped, we sometimes just have to understand what that other person deals with and be there for them.
My personal hearing problems are due to listening to loud music as a teenager. I have had this problem for a long time, since I was about 16 or 17.
My hearing with time will only get worse. Hearing aids are next for me at some point.
Sorry to hear that Randy, but pleased your problems aren’t down to CP and what you deal with.
Because of my sensory problems I have always found it difficult to listen to loud music, but that’s probably been a good thing.
If I had known I would not have done it, but I have learned to adjust to it. I’m not looking forward to getting a hearing aid but that will come in time.
Yes of course. That’s life, we tend to have to adjust to what we deal with, because we have no choice and it’s where we are with what we deal with.
I am sure you will be okay.