sopp, Braun, Doernberg, Benedict, Kirby, and Durkin (2008) reported findings, from a study of 8-year-olds, that there is a prevalence of 3.6 cases per 1000, with more boys than girls (1.4:1) and higher rates among black non-Hispanic children and lowest rates in Hispanic children. Prevalence among children living in low- and middle-income neighborhoods is higher than that among children living in high-income neighborhoods and spastic cerebral palsy is the most common subtype found in 77% of all cases, which is followed by bilateral spastic cerebral palsy dominating the spastic group found in 70% of cases.
There are complications and medical disorders that are commonly found in cerebral palsy patients such as seizures, epilepsy, impaired hearing and/or vision, impaired mental capacity, abnormal perceptions and/or sensations, learning disabilities, and growth problems (Cerebral Palsy Source, 2005). The family bears the burden of caring for the child with cerebral palsy. Lifetime costs for the cerebral palsy patient are $1 million more than for a person without this condition (Cerebral Palsy Source, 2005). Children with cerebral palsy require care from the pediatric nurse from the start to deal with many issues. The pediatric nurse serves as an initial contact with the child and parents and therefore is available for a therapeutic relationship with the child and its family. This nurse is likely to develop this relationshi
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