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When you visit the doctor, remember to take with you:

Have your questions for the doctor ready:

Do you have specific questions about symptoms or characteristics you have noticed?
Do you need to know about therapy options, dietary supplements, exercise suggestions? have a list made out before you meet with him/her.
Be direct and strong when you communicate with your doctor. Doctors have different personalities, so to effectively communicate, be straightforward, be organized and don't be intimidated. Doctors are busy and unable to offer much extra information, so you will need to express your specific questions or concerns.

Questions you might wish to ask the doctor if your child is living with Cerebral Palsy:

What type of cp does my child have and what are the characteristics he/ she will demonstrate?
Does the doctor anticipate that seizures will occur?
Does the doctor anticipate that surgery might be necessary?
When does he/she anticipate developmental milestones to occur? (Sitting up, crawling, walking, etc.)
Does the doctor anticipate that splints or casts might be needed?
What types of therapy are needed to maximize my child's potential?
What type of exercise should my child be getting? What types of exercise are appropriate, and what types would not be? (especially for school-age children)
Are there dietary supplements I should give my child? What can I do to make sure he/she eats well and is healthy?
Does he/she recommend any safe prescription drugs that would be effective in the maintenance of my child's Cerebral Palsy?
What does the doctor expect as my child begins to grow and age? Any specific things that I can expect or watch out for?
Does the doctor know of any community or health services that might be of benefit? How do I access them?

Questions you might wish to ask the doctor if you have Cerebral Palsy:

Based on the type of cp that I have, what type of exercise options would he/she recommend? Are there any that would be unsafe for me to do?
Are there any new treatment options or therapies that he/she could recommend?
Should I be taking some sort of dietary supplements? Does my examination reveal anything that I need to be aware of or work to change? (e.g. low iron, high cholesterol, etc.)
Are there any safe prescription drugs that would be effective in the maintenance of my Cerebral Palsy?
What does the doctor anticipate for the future as I age? What types of body changes can I expect?
I have suddenly begun to fall or I lose my coordination more easily - what could be the cause or prevention of this?
I am experiencing some pain, what can I do about it?
What types of resource materials does the doctor recommend? Websites, books, etc.