Cerebral Palsy and Communication

Communicating with others is an important part of our lives. In the lead-up to World CP Day on October 6th, we are highlighting the #MillionDifferentVoices that people with CP use to communicate. Sometimes, people with CP may use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) methods rather than spoken language. Amy, an adult with cerebral palsy and disability advocate, recently opened up about the challenges she faces communicating, and how she navigates them.

My name is Amy Hogan, and I live with cerebral palsy and am a wheelchair user. I also have what could be termed as a “mild” speech impairment. As part of my role as an advocate, it is important for me to highlight the aspects of living with CP that people may not think about, such as communication difficulties

Technology has become an important aspect of how I navigate both my speech impairments and any psychological aspects that come from it.
While I primarily communicate using speech and my voice, there are times when I find that challenging. While most people can understand my speech in general circumstances, it took many years for me to become confident to talk in situations where I don’t know many people. When I am excited or nervous, my vocal cords tighten as part of the spasticity. My breathing pattern becomes different and many of the words lose their clarity. Individuals with English as their second language, crowds, and people in social settings can find listening to me a challenge. There is also a marked difference between my speech quality in the morning and in the afternoon after work or studying for my thesis.

Read full article to know more about Cerebral Palsy and Communication
#CP #MyCPguide #cerebralpalsyaustralia #cerebralpalsytypes