‘The child with CP grows up to be an adult with CP’ The disabled individual grows up to become a disabled adult trying to establish a sense of belonging to the society and to lead an independent life. Dealing with the lifelong disability that CP causes is mentally, spiritually, and financially exhausting for the family and the growing individual. Children undergo an especially difficult period during adolescence when the effects of spasticity worsen, rapid growth and increase in body weight complicate the physical disabilities, and social development is at a critical stage. Mental retardation, severity of disability, prolonged therapy programs preventing socialization,
overprotection of the adolescent and denial of disability by the family negatively affect the prognosis for independent living in the adult.

Factors adversely affecting independent

• living in the adult
• Mental retardation
• Severity of disability
• Prolonged therapy preventing socialization
• Overprotection of the adolescent
• Denial of disability

There are many barriers for the child to overcome to integrate with the society as a happy and productive human being. Many societies still regard CP as an economic and social burden. Social, cultural and economic factors play major roles in the community integration of the adolescent with CP.

Life expectancy
Mortality in CP is extremely variable. Life expectancy is normal in most diplegic and hemiplegic children who receive adequate medical care and have strong family support. The survival rate of severely affected quadriplegics is low, and most die of malnutrition, infections or respiratory problems before reaching adolescence.