Assistive Equipment and Devices

• Cerebral Palsy
• Cerebral Palsy Treatments
• Assistive Equipment & Devices

Equipment & Devices For Children With Cerebral Palsy

A number of physical impairments and disabilities can result from cerebral palsy, which make it hard for a child with this condition to walk, speak, eat or perform other activities. Over time, these disabilities may also have a cumulative effect on the individual’s mental and physical health.

Fortunately, advancements in technology have led to the development of specialized equipment and devices that enable children and teens with cerebral palsy to live life as independently as possible. Most of these assistive devices are available in different designs, sizes, and shapes to address the unique needs of every child or teen with CP for their safer and easier transition into adult life.

Physical therapy may sometimes be used together with these tools for more effective use. A child with cerebral palsy can learn from a physical therapist about how to correctly use their adaptive device. This can increase the child’s ability to participate in academic, recreational, and social activities and improve their overall quality of life.

Benefits of Adaptive Equipment for Children with Cerebral Palsy

• Improved physical health, fitness, and organ function
• Inclusion in physical activities, sports, and recreation
• Improved ability to express thoughts, feelings, and emotions
• Better communication skills and responsiveness
• Caregivers no longer have to second-guess the child’s needs
• More independent and self-sufficient lifestyle
• Increased self-esteem and self-confidence
• More engaging and enriching social life
• Improved academic performance and learning
• Enhanced reading, writing, comprehension, and vocabulary
• Better career and earning opportunities in adulthood

Types of Assistive Devices and Equipment for Children with Cerebral Palsy

Numerous scientifically designed adaptive tools, devices and equipment are available today to help children with cerebral palsy lead a more independent life. These low-tech and high-tech aids can assist them with everything from speaking to taking a bath to driving a motor vehicle.

Wheelchairs

A wheelchair is one of the most effective mobility solutions for a non-ambulatory CP patient. Wheelchairs can either be manual or power-driven. In a manual wheelchair, the user propels it with own hands, or a caregiver can push it from behind. Power-driven wheelchairs move automatically with an electric motor.

Wheelchair design may have a rigid frame (which will take up more space because it cannot fold), a folding frame, or a reclining frame for more comfort. While a manual wheelchair is more affordable, the user should have adequate strength in the upper body to propel it. Power-driven wheelchairs are more convenient and are particularly useful for children or teens with cerebral palsy who wish to have a more active lifestyle.

When buying a wheelchair for a child with CP, you should consider:

• Whether power or manual model is more suited
• Whether the wheelchair will be used outdoor, indoor, or both
• Frame, weight, and design of the wheelchair
• Seat height, width, cushioning
• Arm rest and foot rest – removable, adjustable, or fixed
• Type and size of tires
• Type of battery (in case of a power wheelchair)

Power Scooters

A power scooter is usually a more cost-effective alternative to a power wheelchair. It may be well-suited for a child or teen with CP who lacks upper body strength or shoulder stamina to operate a manual wheelchair, but wants to independently enjoy time outdoors.

Electric scooters are designed to help children with cerebral palsy develop stability and movement. The design include three or four wheels, have padded seating, foot rest and foot pedal, and strong handlebars to operate the device in different directions.

Although a power scooter design is more compact compared to a motorized wheelchair, it has a longer frame which makes it relatively hard to maneuver. It also does not provide accessories, such as a headrest, which a wheelchair can provide. The weight of this mobility aid is also heavier, which makes it difficult to carry or transport.

However, electric scooters might make children with CP feel better about themselves because the stigma associated with it would be less than that with a wheelchair. (Parents should note that despite the increasing awareness about cerebral palsy, children with this condition continue to face the risk of being targeted by bullies.)

Strollers

When a child with CP has weak trunk muscles and requires support to sit upright, they may benefit from a specially designed cerebral palsy stroller. The stroller will provide a soft chest harness to assist the child sit upright. The extra padding in these strollers makes the seat cushy and supportive. Additional head cushion and lateral pillows may be provided to keep the child’s body securely in position, and prevent them from swinging from side to side. Other key features in these strollers may include:

• Robust frame to provide stability and hold up under strain
• The seat and other components are adjustable to growth
• Spring shock absorbers for a comfortable ride
• Adjustable straps and footplates
• A gentle lap belt and chest harness
• Indoor swivel wheels

Walkers

Children with CP often face difficulties in maintaining posture and balance during mobility. Walkers can be a useful assistive device to tackle these issues. The walker is designed in a way to enable the child to wear the upper body weight on their legs. This may help improve bone strength and density, while reducing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Some of the walker models available for children with CP include:

• 2-Wheel Posture Control Walker: This walker has four posts, out of which the front two posts have wheels, while the rear posts have rubber tips. Rubber tips in the posterior part allow for better movement control and slower walking.


• 4-Wheel Posture Control walker: These types of walkers have wheels on all four posts. These are more appropriate for children who have relatively less severe impairments related to posture and balance.


• Chest Support Walker: This walker also has a wheel on each of the four posts, but it additionally includes a chest-support system to provide stability to the trunk. It is suited for children with CP who don’t have the arm strength needed to operate the walker, but can support their body weight on their legs.


• Suspension Walker: Each of the four posts in this walker has a wheel, but it additionally includes a suspension frame over head. The suspension frame has a harness with a power lift attached to it, which enables the child to control the amount of weight they can bear on their legs. This walker is helpful for kids with posture and balance issues due to cerebral palsy.

Gait Trainers

This device with four wheels is designed to help a child with cerebral palsy augment their mobility, maintain momentum, and develop muscle skills. A built-in seat in a gait trainer allows the child with CP to switch between sitting and standing frequently and easily. Add-on components for trunk support, attachments for head support to build head control, and a harness to improve posture are usually available with a gait trainer.

The appropriate gait trainer model and components should be chosen with the help of a physical therapist. In the beginning, the use of a gait trainer may be limited only to therapy sessions. The therapist will then set the parameters for the use of the equipment at home. As the child’s strength and function gradually improve, the physical therapist may remove the individual components one by one.

Walking Sticks, Canes, and Crutches

Canes

Canes and walking sticks can provide stability and support for children with relatively milder effects of cerebral palsy. Patients with monoplegia (paralysis in one limb) or hemiplegia (paralysis in one half – left or right side – of the body) can benefit from these simple assistive devices. Walking sticks and canes are usually adjustable according to the child’s height. Options include:

• Folding canes
• Non-folding canes
• Folding seat canes (the device folds out to a seat when the child is tired)
• Tripod or quad base (creating a more effective base for support)

Crutches

Children and teenagers with cerebral palsy who can walk or ambulate, but require assistance with stability and balance can make use of crutches. Crutches are primarily of two types: elbow or forearm crutches and underarm crutches.

Individuals with cerebral palsy mostly use forearm crutches (underarm crutches are more appropriate for short-term disability). As the name suggests, forearm crutches attach to the elbow or forearms to provide extra balance. However, this device is not designed to handle the user’s full body weight.

Standers

Standers enable a child with cerebral palsy to stand for brief or extended time periods. The device is designed to provide stability and support the user’s body weight while they are in an upright position. Standers facility muscle and bone development through weight bearing in the legs, promote the use of lower extremity, improve bladder and bowel functions, and help the child to engage better by being at eye-level with their peers.

• Sit-to-Stand Standers: True to their name, these standers help the child with cerebral palsy switch from sitting to standing position, and back. The child should have some truck and head control to be able to use this device.


• Mobile Standers: This assistive device allows the child with CP to stand upright and propel forward. To enable the propel movement this stander may come with pulleys, or large wheels on either side, or a motorized option.


• Active Standers: This is a newer alternative to mobile standers, and comes with a sit-to-stand option. The child can use either the legs or arms or both to operate the stander. For independent use, the child should have upper body strength and some head control.


• Position Standers: Children with CP often use position standers, which are available in three types: supine, prone, and multi-position. The supine stander will position the child on their back, while the prone stander will position them on their abdomen. Multi-position standers allow for both supine and prone positions.

Lifts

Lifts help children and teenagers with cerebral palsy support their body weight when they have difficulty in transferring between locations or devices. Lifts are also useful for caregivers to assist with positioning and transfers. Manual or power lift options that are helpful with CP include:

• Sit-to-Stand Lift: This will help the child switch from a sitting to standing position. It is also helpful for toileting and transfers.
• Floor Lift: This versatile device can help with various lifting needs, such as moving the child from one room to another.
• Ceiling Lift: It operates on a track system installed in the ceiling. A ceiling lift will help transfer the child from room to room or device to device.
• Stair Lift: This equipment will carry the child with CP up and down the stairs. It is installed in the staircase at home for safe movement.
• Transfer Lift: This lift has multiple uses, such as helping the child or teenager with CP transfer from bed to wheelchair, or wheelchair to a car.

Adaptive Tricycles

For a child or teenager with cerebral palsy, riding a two-wheeler may not be possible, but parents or caregivers may consider the option of an adaptive tricycle. Therapeutic cycling with this device can help build anti-gravity muscles, promote respiration, improve truck and head control, and increase hand-eye coordination.

Also known as therapy trikes, these adaptive devices with three wheels are available in multiple sizes to fit the needs of toddlers, kids of an elementary age, and teenagers. Options of standard and wheelchair-style seating may be available. Handlebars are modifiable for better control in these tricycles. They also feature self-leveling pedals and wrist straps.

• Handcycles: Powered by hand cranks, these three-wheeled cycles are appropriate for children with cerebral palsy who have limited mobility in the lower limits. At the Paralympics, handcycling is recognized as an official sport.


• Adaptive Stationary Bikes: Kids with cerebral palsy can utilize an adaptive stationary bike to improve cardiovascular health and strengthen lower extremity muscles through resistance exercise. These bikes come with ankle braces and straps and a restraint mechanism to support the upper body.


• Recumbent Bikes: These adaptive bikes usually have a large wheel in the front and two smaller wheels in the back. This device allows a child with CP to ride a bike with a reclining seat facilitating weight distribution. Recumbent bikes can help with stiffness and weakness in the arms, back and neck for children with cerebral palsy.

Orthotic Boots

This cerebral palsy footwear is designed to provide stability to the feet and legs so that the child or teenager can have better mobility. As certain muscles in children with CP can weaken over time or remain underdeveloped because of disuse, orthotic boots can help in building muscle tone. Supportive components in orthotic boots are often custom-created and may be made from leather, metal, plastic, or carbon fiber.

Cerebral Palsy Braces

A cerebral palsy brace is designed to help children build muscle tone and improve mobility. It assists with stability as well as allows for the stretching of over-tight musculature. Braces are available for hands, wrists, arms, legs, knees, hips, and other limbs affected by CP. The device may be made from plastic, metal, leather, or fusion materials. CP braces should be used with the guidance of an orthotic specialist and the child’s physician.

Ankle-Foot Orthoses (AFO)

An AFO is designed to provide support for the weak leg muscles in kids with cerebral palsy. It will hold the leg with stiff muscles in a comfortable but firm position. The child may wear an AFO on the foot, lower leg, or both. Custom fitting is vital, and parents should seek professional assistance from a physical therapist or the child’s doctor.

Depending on the level of support required, a professional may recommend an AFO with a sturdy or pliable design. AFOs usually include plate that slides into the shoe to help maintain foot level.

Bath Chair

Traditional bath chairs may not offer support for the back, neck, and arms. Therefore, children and teens with cerebral palsy can use specially designed CP bath chairs. Some of the commonly used options in cerebral palsy bath chairs include:

• Bath Overlay: These are removable trays placed across the rim of a bath tub. The overlay sits under the faucet, allowing the water to drain into the tub underneath.
• Bath Lift: A range of manual bath lifts and hoists are available for children with CP, which support them to sit in a full or semi recline position to take a comfortable bath.
• Adjustable Height Bath: This is a cerebral palsy bath seat with electrical or mechanical adjustments to lower or heighten the bath for an easy shower.
• Bath Seats and Boards: The bath seat spans the rim of the tub with a platform. It includes grab rails for handholding support to securely transfer the child in and out of the bath tub.

Toilet Chair

Toilet training for children with cerebral palsy can be a stressful experience. Specially designed toilet chairs for a child with CP can provide additional support and mobility control in order to make potty training easier for the child and the parents. Toilet chairs for children with CP include straps and harness as well as head and neck support to help them sit upright. The chair height is usually adjustable according to the child’s growth.

Adaptive Bed

An adaptive bed for a child or teen with cerebral palsy is important to ensure they don’t fall off or get their limbs entangled in the railings, mattress, or bed frame. The adaptive bed should meet the FDA guidelines for the seven entrapment zones. These beds are usually available in standard, twin, or full sizes. The box spring and mattress are generally included with the bed.

The mattress should ideally be waterproof, include an anti-bacterial cover, and should be designed to mitigate the risk of pressure sores. Some of the adaptive bed models may feature electronic adjustment to enable the child to position their heat and feet at specific angles for a healthier sleeping position and better comfort.

Weighted Blankets

Weighted blankets are similar to quilts, filled with glass beads, poly pellets, or other materials. Each section of the weighted blanket is designed to distribute the weight evenly over the user. For a child or teenager with cerebral palsy, this device can help soothe some of their spastic movements.

According to occupational therapists, the ideal weight of a weighted blanket is about 10% of the user’s body weight plus an additional one to two pounds. Weighted blankets may not be safe for babies below the age of 18 months because of the risk of suffocation.

Car Seat

Cerebral palsy affects a child’s motion control. This makes it vital to have a custom-built or modified car seat with harnesses for their safety during a ride. If the child with CP has limited upper body strength or lack of head control, an upright forward-facing car seat may prove to be less supportive for them. Therefore, a rear-facing seat may be designed for their safety.

Based on this, once the child has outgrown the rear-facing car seat, a specially designed medical seat or large car seat may be used, which supports their complete trunk. This seat should have the option of recline while forward facing. When the child is seated in this position, they can lean back their head while maintaining a clear airway.

Assistive Technology for Cerebral Palsy

Many children and teens with cerebral palsy experience challenges with communication. A number of assistive and adaptive technology devices are now available to help children overcome communication issues.

Communications

Enables students to share ideas and feelings without talking.

Timers

Helps students prepare for new or changes in tasks

Computer Access

Activate computers with alternatives to traditional mouse & keyboard.

Switch-Adapted Toys

Encourages cognitive development through play.

Digital Communication Board

This device is similar to a tablet and is powered by a special software program or app. The digital communication board will present before the child a choice of pictures, letters, words, and numbers. The child with speech related concerns can select from the given options in order to communicate with others. The child may initially require help from a language or speech therapist to successfully use the digital communication board.

Speech Generating Device

A speech generating device functions to produce digital speech for children with cerebral palsy who have difficulty speaking. The child can simply tap or type the words or sentences, the device will convert it into speech. Technically called voice output communication aids (VOCA), these devices can support the child’s current communication approaches, such as facial expressions, gestures, and sounds.

Eye Tracking Device

Children and teens with CP who have limited or no mobility in the fingers, hands or arms to tap the figures on the communication board screen may use eye tracking devices. This device tracks where the user’s eyes are moving or focusing on. When the child simply looks at the desired image, word or number on the digital communication board, it gets auto-selected without any requirement to actively touch the screen.

Hearing Aids

Children and teens with cerebral palsy may sometimes struggle with severe hearing deficits, which may not be addressed with standard hearing aids. In these cases, a cochlear implant may be considered. This tiny device is inserted underneath the skin inside the child’s ear, while an external piece is placed behind the ear. The implant stimulates the auditory nerves, which bypass the ear’s damaged tissue that is preventing hearing.

Advanced assistive listening systems are also available for children with hearing impairment. These sensitive devices will capture the sound in a room, amplify it, and send it to the ear. Children with cerebral palsy may be able to use these systems in the classroom to hear the teacher speaking even when there is noise in the background.

Tablets and Smartphones

Advancements in mobile device technologies have opened a new world of possibilities for children and teens with cerebral palsy. Numerous apps are available from the manufacturers of these devices as well as from external app developers that support life skills, education, converting speech to text or text to speech, reading books, browsing websites, and more.

Speech recognition software programs can turn a smartphone or tablet into a speech recording device. Social skill builder apps present real-life scenarios through interactive videos asking the child to answer questions and apply their judgment. Creative online games help children with CP develop learning skills, while the child controls the commands simply by tilting the mobile device.

Robotic Exoskeletons: Next Generation Technology for Children with CP

Robotics and artificial intelligence promise to be the next frontier in technology, which may assist children with cerebral palsy and dramatically improve their quality of life. One of the recent developments in this field is robotic exoskeletons. It is a new type of physical therapy targeted at children with cerebral palsy.

This wearable device combines machines, electronics, and robotics to help improve physical movement. The exoskeleton aims to build muscular strength and improve muscle-brain coordination for the user to help them stand and walk independently. The robotic device teaches the wearer which muscles to use more often, thereby helping strengthen those muscles.

The device also helps enhance nerve connections to build the child’s muscle memory. These two elements (muscle strength and muscle memory) are both required for the child with CP to eventually walk on their own. The scientific principle behind this technology is that the more frequently we repeat a physical action, the faster our brain fires neurons that tell the involved muscles what to do.

This neurological process is known as muscle-brain connection or muscle memory. However, children with CP may not develop these nerve pathways, which limit their ability to walk. The robotic exoskeletons provide an opportunity to the child to practice walking and build muscle memory in a safe environment. The robotic suits can be customized to each unique motion and muscular needs.

Choosing the Right Assistive Device for Your Child

With a growing range of assistive devices and equipment for children with cerebral palsy, it may be prudent to seek professional help for selecting and using the right technology for your child. You may reach out to one or more of the following professionals for guidance:

• Your child’s doctor
• Physical therapist
• Occupational therapist
• Behavioral therapist
• Speech therapist
• ATP or assistive technology professional, who is certified to help match users with the appropriate assistive or adaptive devices

Is Your Child’s Cerebral Palsy the Result of Medical Malpractice?

Parents whose children suffer from cerebral palsy deserve an answer to how their child developed this condition and whether it was preventable. Our dedicated birth injury lawyers want to help you find those answers.

If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and you suspect this may have been caused in part by medical mistakes, Miller Weisbrod Olesky will thoroughly investigate the facts and hold responsible medical providers accountable by pursuing medical malpractice claims against them. The compensation our clients receive helps them pay for their child’s current and future medical treatment, therapy, equipment needed to help cope with disabilities, and the other expenses associated with caring for a child with brain injuries, seizure disorders, organ damage, speech, vision, hearing or motor impairments, and cerebral palsy.

Sometimes families are hesitant to reach out to a medical malpractice attorney or law firm. Other parents feel overwhelmed by their circumstances and worried that they will not be able to help out in a lawsuit involving their child’s birth injury.

Miller Weisbrod Olesky is different from most law firms.
We provide help NOW.

Many attorneys focus only on pursuing their client’s legal case. At Miller Weisbrod Olesky, we know your child needs help today – not just when your birth injury lawsuit is settled. We have a team focused on helping our clients NOW when they need it most.

We know that children with birth injuries like hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and cerebral palsy often require intense therapy, specialized medical treatment, and assistive care. The stress of providing for a birth injured child’s needs can be both emotionally and financially draining.

But just ‘knowing’ this is not enough. We act on this knowledge by providing exceptional services to birth-injured children and their families.

While Miller Weisbrod Olesky’s birth injury attorneys aggressively prepare each legal case, another department goes into action to help the families of children we represent. Led by a nurse-attorney, this department acts as a medical case manager for our birth injury clients by:

• Regularly monitoring the child’s medical treatment status,
• Helping facilitate medical treatment and therapy, and
• Arranging transportation and services.

Where necessary, we also help families locate local medical providers specializing in the care and treatment of children who have suffered a birth injury. With Miller Weisbrod Olesky, you’re not just a ‘case’. And that’s important when you’re looking for a lawyer who can help you cope with your child’s needs today.

Please call or email us today to get started.

Registered Nurses and Nurse-Attorneys Are a Vital Part of Our Birth Injury Team … and Yours

Most national birth injury law firms will employ one or two nurses to assist the review of cases and medical research. But Miller Weisbrod Olesky offers an unmatched number of nurses and nurse-attorney employees support to both the birth injury attorneys and our clients.

Our team of registered nursing staff and nurse-attorneys bring a deep level of medical and personal insight to every client’s case. Our nursing team includes both an experienced labor and delivery nurse as well as an ICU nurse. Working closely with the rest of the team, they investigate the reasons behind a birth injury and how medical professionals breached their standard of care.

Why Should You Talk with the Knowledgeable Attorneys at Miller Weisbrod Olesky?

The only way to find out if you have a birth injury case is to talk to a medical negligence attorney who understands how ischemia occurs during labor and delivery, birth and shortly after birth if baby’s are not correctly monitored, diagnosed and treated.

At Miller Weisbrod Olesky, a team of committed attorneys, nurses and paraprofessionals uses our detailed medical negligence case review process to assess your potential claim. We start by learning more about you and your child and the status of meeting or missing developmental milestones. Then we gather medical records to determine what happened before, during, and after your delivery. We call in skilled medical experts who review your records and let us know if they think medical errors could have caused your child’s injuries.

If we feel medical negligence caused or contributed to your child’s injuries, we meet with you to discuss how you can receive compensation from the medical professionals who made the errors.

At no point in our legal intake process will we ask you to pay anything. The medical review of your case and the consultation are free. We only receive payment when you do.

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