Adult Cerebral Palsy

Ohio: 216.636.5860 Florida: 877.463.2010

You deserve healthcare providers who don’t underestimate your abilities or your good days. And who understand your tougher ones.

As a kid, you relied on your pediatric providers and rehab specialists to know what worked for your cerebral palsy. Now that you’re over 18, managing your cerebral palsy as an adult is a completely different thing. Some days it’s hard, while other days it’s not. But you want to keep moving forward, no matter what.

At Cleveland Clinic, we know you’re strong. And we’ll help you confidently handle the challenges of adult cerebral palsy with personalized treatment and support. And if your health changes over time, we’ll guide you through these changes and help you adapt to each new stage of life.

Why Choose Cleveland Clinic for Adult Cerebral Palsy Care?

Personalized care:

No two cases of adult cerebral palsy are the same. You’re unique. That’s why our specialists listen to you and work with you to craft a treatment plan that suits your needs and goals. And we create a gradual and comfortable transition from your pediatric provider to an adult specialist.

Specialized knowledge:

Our highly skilled cerebral palsy and spasticity physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists help you stay healthy and improve your quality of life with treatment plans that fit your specific needs. Meet our team.

Comprehensive treatment:

We understand having adult cerebral palsy can lead to a wide range of symptoms and health problems. We can connect you with the specialists you need to care for each aspect of your well-being, from physical to emotional.

Innovation and research:

We are continually researching and learning more about brain disorders to actively improve our care. This also means you have access to the latest therapies and treatment techniques at Cleveland Clinic.

Virtual visits:

Having adult cerebral palsy might make getting in to see your provider a challenge sometimes. That’s why we also offer some appointments as virtual visits. This is an easy and safe way to see your provider online. All you need is an internet connection, smartphone, tablet or computer.

National recognition:

Cleveland Clinic is a trusted healthcare leader. We're recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for our expertise and care.

Adult Cerebral Palsy Evaluation at Cleveland Clinic

Our specialists have the expertise to treat mild and severe cerebral palsy throughout your adulthood. We’ll become a partner you can trust, much in the same way you connected with and trusted your pediatrician. We’re here for you — with compassionate and supportive care.

We understand cerebral palsy in adults and all the ways it could affect you as you get older. You may experience changes to your body, bones and muscles. This can make it harder for you to move and walk. Over time, you might also develop other problems, like worsening pain, that make it harder to do daily tasks or make you feel worse. We’re here to help you keep an eye on those things.

At your first visit, our physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists will help you figure out what’s going on in your body. At your appointments, your provider will talk with you about each of your symptoms and do a physical examination. They might order tests like X-rays or a bone scan. Taking note of your changing symptoms and diagnosing new problems means you can get treatment sooner.

We know that cerebral palsy can also affect your thinking abilities, which can make some daily tasks challenging. That’s why our team may also order neuropsychological testing. This will help us check up on your memory, concentration and mood to see how your brain is working.

Providers Who Treat Adult Cerebral Palsy

Locations

Our healthcare providers see patients at convenient locations throughout Northeast Ohio and Florida.

Adult Cerebral Palsy Treatment at Cleveland Clinic

At Cleveland Clinic, adult cerebral palsy treatment focuses on ways to reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life. We’ll also help you prevent and manage normal health risks that happen as time goes on. Some of these can develop faster with cerebral palsy. That’s why we’ll see you regularly and keep an eye on your overall health.

Rehabilitation

You’ll have a team of different providers in different specialties by your side to help you manage your cerebral palsy. This team may include:

Physical therapists who’ll guide you through specialized exercises to help you get stronger and move around easier.
Occupational therapists who’ll work with you to make daily tasks easier and help you make lifestyle changes that improve your symptoms.
Speech therapists to help you with any problems you have with speaking, swallowing or hearing.

The rehab team will also help you get assistive equipment — like a brace, a cane, a walker or a wheelchair — if you need it.

Medication

In addition to rehabilitation, you may get medications to manage your symptoms. We take the time to find the right medication for you. Medications can help improve joint, back or nerve pain, how your bladder and bowel work or mental health conditions.

Many medications, including baclofen and Botox^®, relax your muscles to reduce spasticity (tightness).

Surgery

In more severe cases, you may get orthopaedic surgery to help with pain and movement. We partner with experienced orthopaedic surgeons for procedures, such as making your muscles and tendons longer, or hip and knee replacement.

We also work closely with neurosurgeons for intrathecal baclofen (ITB) therapy. ITB therapy involves surgically implanting a baclofen pump and a catheter (thin, flexible tube) from the pump to your spine, to treat severe spasticity. Our rehabilitation team does the evaluations needed to make sure a baclofen pump is a good treatment option for you. And they’ll help manage the therapy after surgery.

Other support

There might be times when you need support beyond your physical symptoms. Our team of dedicated social workers are here to help you through the challenges of cerebral palsy. They’ll be by your side as you navigate things like healthcare costs, living on your own and finding the right job.

And if you’re feeling anxious or depressed, we can connect you with our team of psychologists and psychiatrists who can help you improve your mental well-being, too. They’ll talk with you about any difficult feelings you might have and teach you how to cope with negative emotions.

Looking Ahead to What’s Next

Being an adult is hard enough. Why should finding a healthcare provider who understands you and your needs be hard, too? We take that stress off your plate. Our adult cerebral palsy specialists will make you feel heard and empowered about your treatment plan. We’re here to help you stay strong and keep moving through life.