Cerebral palsy and communication

Cerebral palsy (CP) can cause disturbances in sensory and cognitive development as well as motor disorders. Problems in these areas of functioning can affect children’s speech, language and communication development. The intelligibility of children’s speech, gesture and the communication signals expressed by body movement may be reduced, and children’s expression and understanding of language can be delayed. This review describes the communication difficulties commonly associated with CP, their assessment by speech and language therapists, and the interventions that may be employed to reduce their impact on children’s activity and participation.