Assistive / Adaptive Devices for Children with Cerebral Palsy

There are many devices to help children with cerebral palsy be more independent, including new, cutting-edge devices.

There are numerous types of assistive and adaptive devices for children with cerebral palsy to help with mobility, physical therapy, recreational activities, play, communication, learning, and regular activities of daily living – and there are some new, cutting-edge devices for 2019.  Assistive and adaptive devices help a child succeed and transition to an independent lifestyle, and they can be a lot of fun.  They are also commonly used during physical therapy.

WHEELCHAIRS

Children with cerebral palsy – especially spastic cerebral palsy – may have difficulty walking due to very tight muscles in the hips and legs.  Some wheelchairs have tilts, headrests, harnesses and other features that are suited for children with cerebral palsy who have weak trunk muscles and need help to remain upright.  Convaid is one of many companies that make these types of wheelchairs. A Carbon Black wheelchair is a fully customizable chair that is lightweight, strong, futuristic and made out of carbon fiber.

GAIT TRAINING & EQUIPMENT FOR STANDING

There are many products that can help a child with cerebral palsy remain in an upright position while moving around.  Gait trainers help children practice walking, which can help with muscle development, skeletal growth, increased bone density, social development and integration, and improved cognition.  There are many different types of “standers” that can help children with cerebral palsy remain standing, whether they can walk on their own or not.  Standers have many benefits, such as helping with postural symmetry and helping to prevent fatigue so that children can engage in certain activities for a longer period of time.  There are basically four types of standers: sit-to-stand standers, mobile standers, active standers and multi position standers, such as supine standers and prone positioners.

ADAPTIVE TRICYCLES

There are many different types of cycles for children with cerebral palsy.  Adaptive tricycles can help a child engage in recreational and therapeutic cycling, which can improve the cardiopulmonary system, improve swallowing, help with the development of head and trunk control, strengthen muscles – including anti-gravity muscles, and improve eye-hand coordination and self-esteem.

COMMUNICATION DEVICES

Many children with cerebral palsy have difficulty with speech or cannot speak at all.  Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) devices can help children communicate using signs, letters, pictures and even a voice.  For example, the Proloquo2Go works with an iPad and provides text-to-speech voice, with a vocabulary that contains thousands of words.