This is so true

This is a good quote to think about your own life

Does cerebral palsy affect intelligence?

This is one of the most common questions I get

So what do I mean by that? 

Well, as mentioned before in this blog. In various posts such as life with mixed diplegic cerebral palsy What is the difference between us Learning who you are! Just to name a few. And quite honestly the answer in my opinion is no! 

My reasoning for this?

Just because someone has the condition does not mean they are going to be of low intelligence. A condition of  Cerebral palsy is a form of brain injury. Not a person's intelligence. 

What are the main functions of the cerebrum?

 

The largest part of the brain, the cerebrum initiates and coordinates movement and regulates temperature. Other areas of the cerebrum enable speech, judgement, thinking and reasoning, problem-solving, emotions and learning. Other functions are related to vision, hearing, touch and other senses.

Meaning that cognitive parts of the brain are affected by cerebral palsy but it doesn't mean that we are low intelligence because we have to think things in a different way.

Many of us are teachers, university staff and much more. If that was the case there wouldn’t be people who had the condition but were in these jobs.

There is this misconception that because we have a disability it means that we have low intelligence. And that is just not true!

That would be like gagging people of all types by what they can do, not how someone thinks.

To show another example of this would be professor Stephen Hawking. Who, although had Motor Neurone Disease (ALS) was able to teach and research at the prestigious University in Cambridge, United Kingdom. Until his death in 2018. His IQ was 160 which was the same as another theoretical physicist Albert Einstein. He is most famous for his theory of general relativity. 

So although Stephen Hawking was physically disabled by Motor Neurone Disease it did not take his ability to think away. This would mean that as the disease took hold then he would have been put in a care home never to be heard of in the first place.

Therefore cerebral palsy is a condition that affects the brain and the body physically. It does not mean we have low intelligence. 

Societies angle.

As far as I can see from a personal point of view it is the generations before who have thrust their opinions on all disabled, not just those of us who have cerebral palsy. But every type of disability.

What do I mean?

Right up to the 1980s here in the United Kingdom people who have any disability at any level were put into care homes. 

It was even evident during the 1990s when I was out with my now-husband we heard an old lady say that in her day people were put away.

We were put away for being different and deemed simple-minded just because our limbs were not able to be used the same way.

And unfortunately, the lingering thoughts of having disabled people put away is still being considered no matter how badly a person is physically affected. Because being disabled is not the norm. 

But what is the norm?

Being short-sighted, long-sighted having to wear glasses, wearing hearing aids because we’re hard of hearing. I Have asthma. These are the accepted norms for what I’ve seen people think but walking differently, speaking differently unless you are from a different area of the same country are classed not. 

There is also the problem of being of different races and religions that are still being argued about too. 

So my final thought on this is what is normal?

What are your thoughts on this?

I have used information from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Wikipedia for Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein

Coming out of the woods

The pandemic of covid19 began just over two years ago and we are about to come out as I write this. When it is posted it should be when we are free of the pandemic for now. As written in the emergency post I spoke about what was going on in Ukraine at the time has just gone live Emotional Plea for Ukraine and Peace. 

Things have changed again but right now here in the UK, the masks are not as evident as they used to be.

People don't have to be wearing masks all the time and don't need to follow so many restrictions as we did 2 years ago. You could say we are coming to the roaring 20s as we did 100 years ago. When the Spanish flu occurred. which I mention in so we are coming out another side of this.

But that is a different situation as there have been some drastic changes throughout the whole century since the previous big pandemic.

We can go about as much as normal I suppose and it's pretty much business as usual. When I'm writing this, the 2 years have affected us. Because people are more aware of what could be around and what is not but could be by people also are scared about giving it to someone else. Which is fair, especially at the moment of writing, still not completely curable. It is similar to the flu in that respect, however, it is not like the flu in other respects. As it seems to be mutating quite a lot, but not enough or severe enough for the pandemic to be continued in the same sense as it was. 

So we are out of the woods enjoying the good season while we can before another scary event happens. I'm rather glad that things are a bit calmer. It means that people can be a little less stressed, although the pandemic has turned our lives upside down and made us change things

Has the earth done this because of its thoughts on the way that the human race is treating it? 

Is it just sod's law like 100 years ago?

I wonder because for me it could be another situation again sooner than expected or hoped as we go through and head to another century rapidly in my eyes and I've already gone through what two different centuries now I've gone from the 20th century and 21st century so it is scary what is going to happen next. I worry about the future for others who are disabled not just the average person who is normal who would be surviving then.

Would there be enough support for people who have disabilities like cerebral palsy?

Or will they still be a minority where we are suffering rather than accepted because at the moment it still feels as if we are not accepted properly?

What do you think of my thoughts on this when you're reading up, please leave a comment below.

This is a brilliant quote

Solutions for the seasons and their affects on a body with cerebral palsy

 Solutions.

Many of these Solutions will come across as common sense which they are however people who don't know how cerebral palsy affects people with it. people should take these into account. remember it is not just the brain damage that was caused at birth it is the secondary issues such as muscle tone and joint problems that occur later in life and when this starts to show it is best to address s two seasons correctly for that particular person it depends on how they are generally and what they are as part of the disability.

If in summer the person is unable to control their body and body temperature then the best way is to keep as cool as possible as this will help the person with their movement if they can if on the other hand, they become cold then it is best to keep them warm and it doesn't matter whether they are outside or in because if someone was to have the central heating on in their house in the summer and it was hot they're muscle tone would also be affected and too difficult to manoeuvre easily for day-to-day life. therefore windows should be open at times and that person dressed appropriately.

If the person can walk on their own with or without aids then it is best to consider what they are doing for that particular day because everything has to be taken into account for the amount of energy that is used by that person for that particular day making it harder for the next day or 2. The average person would just put on a coat or jacket etc for that particular day but a person with cerebral palsy has to account for everything that they are doing as well and where they are going and how they are walking or moving around.  if in a wheelchair or a mobility scooter then the person has to again-dress accordingly to what the weather is like as any other person would. but as I have just said in my previous paragraph the person or people who use aids such as a walker or walking stick have to take those into account for where and what they are doing on that particular day. 

Therefore just like anyone else a coat or jacket would be needed for 4ev re1 who is walking on their own or in a wheelchair/Motability scooter however additional needs would be required for a wheelchair such as a blanket or waterproof cover, for the person who is sat in the chair for long periods out and about, should a shower or freak weather happen. 

Also while at home the person should be doing simple exercises that they can do with the carer or on their own to keep that mobility at the level that they are at rather than deteriorate further than expected or wanted at a quicker pace. 

I have another post on that earlier in my blog And they can be found at Exercises or No Exercises

An amazing quote

This is so apt for right now

Summer and its Affects on the Body with CP

 it's summer

This is the third season when everyone one.is outside and it doesn't matter whether you have a disability or not but with this season comes the reversal of the situation for winter. because again muscle tone and joint pain can occur. With cerebral palsy, it doesn't matter because of the muscle tone being tight being because of it being too hot just as it would be if it was too cold as in winter. 

A good example of this was a British Paralympian who was in Rio and said that her body loves the heat for muscle tone as it made it easier to run etc however her skin and the rest of the body where cerebral palsy is not affected the body hated the heat because of the humidity.

Doing this group of posts I asked various members of a group who have cerebral palsy and different types such as spastic, ataxic and diplegic And it doesn't didn't matter what type of disability or cerebral palsy someone has where the weather will affect the body to some extent. 

In conclusion to this then it would make no difference whether the person went out if they were worse too hot or too cold because the disability would be affected in the same way however when the weather is ideal then is the optimal time to go out and do things.

A fabulous quote

This is so true

Spring and its Affects on the Body with CP

So it's spring:

This is a season where things get a little bit easier. the weather has been getting slightly warmer each day. Maybe a few days where it has been more difficult to get out however because of the way things are with cerebral palsy this is also the time of freedom to start with. Here in the UK, we are just coming through the winter when we are stuck indoors. because of the way the weather has affected our bodies with cerebral palsy.

Warmer days

These are the days that are slightly better than the last few months because of the way cerebral palsy is affected and the pain and the looseness of muscles is beginning to happen again because of the warmth. making things happier for us as we can move freely. it doesn't mean that we have to stay indoors but we do if it is a colder and windy day because of the pain in our muscles and joints. 

Windy days

Again like Autumn and Winter, these windy days in spring make it harder for us to manoeuvre and whether we are using support or not does matter so is more suggestive today to stay in as it makes our joints more painful and muscles tighter making it harder to move.

 what you doing

Rainy days

Feed the days are difficult despite being warm we feel often that we can't go out because of the factor that the ground is slippery so decide not to it doesn't mean that we don't all the time but most of the time I'm if it is a stormy rainy day then we don't because of the muscle tone and joint pain.

Sunny days

These can be the best days as it cannot be too hot but yeah it's warm enough to keep our joints supple. These are the days when there when we grab opportunities with both hands because we can do the most.

Cold days

Similar to winter and autumn this is when the pain for joints and muscles are stiff making it harder for us to do what is required on a day-to-day basis. So we spend most of the time indoors doing things if we can.

Final ideas

This is when in fact things become freer. however, because we find it difficult to move around on bad days when it's cold or windy such as in winter or autumn or early spring it makes it more exciting for when summer comes.

A fantastic quote

This is a fantastic quote to think about.

Winter and its Affects on the Body With CP

 

Why winter?

Carrying on from my post about autumn and its effects on the body with cerebral palsy. This post is about winter and its effects on a body with cerebral palsy.

Warmish Days:

These would be classed as the best days to go out as people have the least amount of pain in their muscles and joints due to the challenges the condition gives.

Stormy Days:

These days are avoided. As much as possible because of the pain that happens because of the way the muscles and joints are affected. However, we have to carry on regardless and go out if possible. Again that depends on how the condition affects the body.

Rainy Days:

These are similar to stormy days but can walk. They can be just as tricky especially if using walking aids such as sticks or crutches as the ground becomes more slippery. Therefore even with aids, it is more difficult to walk if done.

Cold Days:

Pain wise these days are absolutely the worst in my view. As my knees are very worn out. And as I have mixed cerebral palsy everywhere. But in general, these are the ones that affect every person with the condition. I try not to go out on these days

Snowy Days:

These are days again when there is a lot of pain if we go out. Which is very unlikely as well as the cold the ground is unstable as it's slippery. Even if we were able to go out it would be difficult with whatever aid we used. The pain in our joints and muscles could be unbearable.

Thoughts:

So even if we do go out in autumn it depends if we need to go out for anything. But it doesn’t matter what type of cp we have the effects are the same to some degree or another.