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How is hemiplegia treated?

4 mins read

Children with hemiplegia tend to undergo multi-therapy approach, including physiotherapy and occupational therapy. This section will tell you a bit more about the treatments available.

In this article

Introduction

When a child is first diagnosed, it is often difficult for a doctor to predict whether problems will be mild or severe later in life. They will often adopt a ‘wait-and-see’ approach, which parents can find difficult to accept if they feel they are not getting all the facts.

The immature brain is very flexible, and the undamaged parts of the brain can take over some of the functions of the damaged area in a process known as neuroplasticity. Which area of the brain was damaged and which side of the body is affected makes relatively little difference in children and young people with hemiplegia.

In contract, an adult whose brain pathways are already organised has much less neuroplasticity. After a stroke they may lose very specific functions, depending on which part of the brain the stroked affects.

You’ve just learnt your child has hemiplegia

Once diagnosed, your child will probably be referred to:

  • A Child Development Centre (CDC), or
  • The children’s department of your local or regional hospital.

A paediatrician, plus therapists, who work as part of a wider network of professionals including:

  • Paediatric neurologists, and
  • Orthopaedic and neurosurgeons

will work in partnership with you to develop his or her abilities.

Your GP will continue to deal with your child’s usual ailments, but more specialised care will be provided by paediatricians at the CDC. Some CDCs run parents’ groups where you can meet and share experiences with other families.

The multidisciplinary approach

Your child’s management will probably be based on a multidisciplinary approach, involving:

A physiotherapist, and often an occupational therapist, will work closely with each other and with you to agree a programme of management. This will involve specific goals tailored to your child’s development and needs.

The aim will be to improve your child’s participation in everyday activities, for example play, feeding, dressing, school life. The therapists will work to develop your child’s skills, assessing posture and providing muscle stretching, and possibly strengthening activities. This will help prevent possible secondary consequences of hemiplegia, such as pain or the development of contractures (abnormal shortening of the muscles).

Goals could include improving function so that your child can grasp an object with the affected hand, or walk better, for example. They should take into account:

  • You and your child’s views.
  • The time and effort involved in carrying out therapy activities.
  • The impact on the child and his or her family.
  • How effective the activities might be.

Therapists will usually ask you to continue using any therapies and techniques at home, for example during dressing or bathing, so that they become part of your child’s everyday life. The therapy programme may include some training for you, and later your child, to carry out the exercises or techniques.

Your child’s progress should be reviewed regularly to assess how well the therapy programme is working and consider whether there is a need for other treatments as well. These might include orthoses (devices, such as splints, fitted to the body to improve posture and/or function); drugs such as baclofen, Botulinum Toxin injections or orthopaedic surgery.

Children with hemiplegia often have difficulties with speech and communication. Speech and language therapists work with people to maximize the ability to communicate.

In general, a  child with hemiplegia should be treated as normally as possible. It is essential to involve the affected side in play and everyday activities, to make your child as “two-sided” as he or she can be. As they get older, many children and young people with hemiplegia can develop more use of their affected side through involvement in their chosen sports and hobbies.

Find out more about hemiplegia treatments

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