Cerebral Palsy Assistive Devices
There are many helpful assistive devices children with cerebral palsy who have mobility and communication challenges use for daily life. Learn about the different types of devices used, costs, and where families can purchase them.
Assistive Devices for Children with Cerebral Palsy
Like mobility aids, assistive devices help children and adults with cerebral palsy to move more easily, communicate effectively, and complete daily tasks with greater independence. Devices range from simple adaptive utensils to more advanced mobility technology and communication systems.
These devices help compensate for muscle weakness, tightness, poor balance, involuntary movements, or difficulties with speech and fine motor skills. Families may use multiple devices at different ages as a child's needs change.
The right equipment can help with:
- Increasing mobility and balance
- Improve communication and speech
- Daily living (eating, dressing, bathing)
- Engaging in classroom participation
- Home and community accessibility
Augmentative & Alternative Communication Devices (AAC)
For many children with cerebral palsy, communication is more than just about having something to say; it’s about having a body that can get the message out. These tools give children a way to express needs, thoughts, and emotions when speech is difficult or impossible.
Low-Tech AAC
- Communication Boards - Communication boards allow children to point to or touch pictures, symbols, or words to express themselves. For a child who struggles with speech or muscle control, this can remove the frustration of not being understood and help them participate in conversations, school activities, and daily routines.
- Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) - PECS helps children communicate by handing over or pointing to pictures that represent what they want or feel. This is especially helpful for younger children or those just beginning to develop communication skills, giving them a structured way to make choices and be heard without needing complex motor control.
- Yes/No Switches and Simple Buttons - These large, easy-to-press switches allow children with limited hand or finger movement to answer yes or no or trigger simple messages. For children who fatigue easily or have severe motor challenges, even a single successful press can be empowering because it gives them control over decisions that affect their day.
High-Tech AAC
- Speech-Generating Devices (SGDs) - SGDs turn a child’s selections through touch, switches, or eye movements into spoken words or sentences. These devices help children fully express themselves in school, therapy, and social settings, allowing them to share jokes, opinions, and emotions rather than relying only on caregivers interpreting their needs.
- Communication Apps - AAC apps transform tablets into personalized communication tools. They adapt as the child grows, allowing them to move from simple picture requests to building full sentences. This helps them feel included in classroom discussions, friendships, and family conversations. Proloquo2Go and TD Snap are the two most popular apps used.
- Eye-Gaze Technology - For children with very limited motor control, eye-gaze systems track where they look on a screen to select words or icons. This gives children who may not be able to move their hands or speak the ability to communicate independently, often for the first time, which can be life-changing for both the child and their family.
Cochlear Implants
Some children with cerebral palsy experience co-occurring symptoms like significant hearing loss. This makes communication, safety, and learning more challenging.
Cochlear implants don't restore normal hearing but instead give children with hearing loss the ability to pick up loud noises and spoken words, helping them to communicate, learn, and increase their awareness.
How Do Cochlear Implants Work?
A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted medical device that bypasses damaged parts of the inner ear and directly stimulates the auditory nerve. Instead of amplifying sound (like hearing aids), it translates sound into electrical signals that the brain learns to recognize as meaningful audio.
For a child with CP who struggles to hear their name across a room, recognize a caregiver’s voice, or respond to environmental sounds like alarms or traffic, this can be life-changing.
How Are Cochlear Implants Installed?
A cochlear implant has two parts:
Internal component (surgically implanted) under the skin behind the ear. It includes:
- A receiver/stimulator
- An electrode array inserted into the cochlea
External sound processor worn outside the ear or on the head. It includes:
- A microphone to pick up sound
- A speech processor to convert sound into digital signals
- A transmitter coil that sends signals to the implant
Note: There are also a variety of covers with unique and customizable designs that children can use to make their device more comfortable and stylish while wearing it at school or during play.
Installation is a short surgery (usually done in under 2 hours), and patients are typically released the same day. After surgery, children may not be able to hear and takes up to 3-6 weeks for the wound to heal before being fitted with an external hearing device.
This device will be programmed specifically for them, and they will be able to hear with their new cochlear implants.
How Cochlear Implants Helps Children with Cerebral Palsy
For children with both CP and hearing loss, cochlear implants can help improve many areas of their life, such as:
- Improves communication: When paired with speech therapy or AAC devices, hearing input can help their language development.
- Enhances safety: A child can become more aware of environmental sounds like car horns, alarms, or approaching people.
- Better social connection: Hearing laughter, voices, and music can deepen emotional bonds and reduce isolation.
- Learning ability: Even partial hearing access can improve classroom participation and focus.
Quick Fact: For some children, hearing sound for the first time can be exciting. For others, it can be overwhelming. Either way, the brain needs time to learn how to interpret these new signals. As time passes, children become more responsive, aware, and engaged with their surroundings.
What Parents Should Know About Cochlear Implants
Not every child with cerebral palsy and hearing loss is a candidate for cochlear implants. In order to see if a child is a good fit, specialists will evaluate:
- The degree and type of hearing loss
- Condition of the auditory nerve and inner ear
- Medical risks due to CP-related conditions
- Likelihood the child will tolerate and benefit from the device
Families should be aware of the potential risks and implications of this procedure and how it may affect their child.
- Surgical complications: Infection, bleeding, facial nerve injury, or anesthesia risks.
- Device failure or malfunction: May require revision surgery or replacement.
- Requires ongoing therapy: Speech and auditory therapy are important for success.
- Not recommended for: Those with mild hearing loss and severe co-occurring medical conditions.
- Initial and ongoing costs: Can exceed $30,000 – $50,000 per ear (surgery + device + programming + rehab).
Daily Living & Self-Care Devices
Children with cerebral palsy often want to do what other kids do, like eat and get dressed, brush their teeth, but their bodies may not cooperate the same way. These devices help reduce frustration and build independence step by step.
Feeding & Eating Aids
- Weighted or Curved Utensils - These utensils are designed to counter hand tremors and limited wrist rotation. The added weight stabilizes movement, and the curved shape helps children bring food to their mouths more easily, making mealtime less messy and more rewarding.
- Plate Guards - Plate guards attach to the edge of a plate and make it easier for children to scoop food without it sliding off. This small adaptation can be the difference between feeling dependent on someone and feeling capable during meals.
- Adaptive Cups with Flow Control - These cups control the speed of liquid flow, helping children who have difficulty swallowing or coordinating breathing and sipping. For kids who are prone to choking, this adds safety while letting them drink more independently.
- Non-Slip Mats - Placed under plates or bowls, these mats prevent items from sliding around during meals. For a child struggling with muscle control, this stability reduces frustration and helps them focus on learning to eat, rather than fighting against moving dishes.
Dressing & Hygiene Tools
- Zipper Pulls and Button Hooks - These tools help children manage fine motor tasks like zipping jackets or buttoning shirts. They’re especially helpful for kids with spasticity or limited finger control, offering small victories that boost confidence and independence.
- Long-Handled Brushes and Sponges - These tools extend a child’s reach, allowing them to wash or groom areas they otherwise couldn’t access easily. For children with limited range of motion, this makes bathing and hygiene less tiring and easier.
- Slip-On Shoes and Elastic Laces - Designed for children who struggle bending or using their hands to tie shoes, these make getting dressed faster and much less stressful. It also helps kids feel more independent when they're getting ready for school or activities.
- Bath Chairs and Grab Bars - These provide stability and safety while bathing. For children with balance or muscle-control issues, they reduce fall risk and make bath time more comfortable and less physically demanding.
Adaptive Seating & Positioning Equipment
- Specialized Seating - Adaptive chairs, corner seats, and floor sitters help children to maintain proper posture during activities like playing, eating, or learning. For a child who struggles to sit independently, these seats provide trunk and head support, helping them focus on engaging with their surroundings instead of using all their energy to stay upright.
- Positioning Systems - Positioning systems use adjustable supports to align the body properly, reducing stress on joints and preventing deformities like scoliosis or hip displacement. They also help to keep the child comfortable while also protecting their long-term musculoskeletal health, which improves their function and quality of life.
Technology & Learning Supports
Computer and Classroom Aids
- Keyguards - Keyguards fit over keyboards and help children press one key at a time, reducing accidental keystrokes caused by uncontrolled movements. This makes typing for schoolwork or communication more manageable.
- Trackball or Joystick Mouse - These devices replace traditional mice and require less fine motor control. They allow children with limited hand movement to access computers, games, and learning tools more independently.
- Speech-to-Text Software - This technology converts a child’s spoken words or AAC outputs into written text. It helps students keep up with writing tasks without being limited by their motor challenges.
- Adaptive Writing Tools - Special grips and adapted pencils help children hold utensils more comfortably and write more clearly, improving participation in school activities without hand strain.
Environmental Control Units (ECUs)
Environmental control systems allow children to control their surroundings using switches, touchscreens, or voice commands.
These systems let a child turn lights on or off, change the TV, or adjust the temperature, giving them a greater sense of control and independence, especially for those with limited mobility.
Recreational & Play Assistive Devices
Play is essential for emotional, social, and physical development, but many children with CP face barriers to participating in typical recreational activities. These devices help them to engage in hobbies and other activities.
- Adaptive Tricycles - These bikes provide extra trunk and head support, helping children experience the joy of movement while building leg strength and coordination.
- Modified Swings - Supportive swings offer full body stability so children with limited balance can enjoy playground time safely and comfortably.
- Supportive Swimming Equipment - Flotation and positioning devices allow children to float and move freely in the water, improving muscle tone while reducing pressure on joints.
- Power-Assist Wheels for Sports Chairs - These enhance mobility for children involved in wheelchair sports, allowing them to participate with less physical strain and more independence.
Did You Know? According to a recent study from the NIH, children with cerebral palsy use an average of 2 to 3 assistive devices, with the number of devices used increasing between the ages of 2 and 9. Children who use assistive devices are also found to significantly improve their gross motor skills, independence, and self-care.
How to Choose the Right Assistive Devices
For a child with cerebral palsy, the right device is rarely just about equipment. It’s about how that child moves, communicates, and experiences the world. Choosing the right device makes all the difference in how a child will move and engage with their surroundings.
Start With a Professional Evaluation
A physical therapist, occupational therapist, or physiatrist will usually measure muscle tone or range of motion. They also observe how your child transitions between sitting and standing, how they fatigue during play, how their hands respond when grasping, and how they adapt to new movement challenges.
These details help them recommend devices that support not only mobility or communication, but also your child’s daily life and personality.
This evaluation usually includes:
- Posture and trunk control assessments
- Fine motor ability and hand function
- Sensory sensitivity and comfort tolerance
- How your child functions at home, school, and in the community
The best evaluations also include the child’s preferences and emotional responses, because a device a child refuses to use, no matter how advanced, won’t help them grow.
Consider Growth and Long-Term Use
Children grow quickly, and for children with cerebral palsy, growth isn’t just about height. As their body changes, muscle tone, tightness, and joint positioning can change too.
Many modern assistive devices are modular or adjustable, which means they can grow along with your child instead of needing constant replacement.
Examples:
- Wheelchairs with adjustable frames and seat depth
- Seating systems with interchangeable trunk and head supports
- Communication devices with expandable vocabularies
- Gait trainers that adapt to longer legs or taller torsos
However, not every device can grow infinitely. Families often need to plan for periodic upgrades every 2–5 years, depending on the device type and how fast a child grows.
This is why long-term planning matters, not just for function, but for emotional stability. Constantly replacing a device a child has bonded with can be stressful. Devices that “grow with them” reduce disruption and preserve confidence.
Focus on Comfort and Consistency
An assistive device should never feel like a punishment or a restraint. It should feel like a tool for freedom.
Children with cerebral palsy often have sensory sensitivities, muscle stiffness, pressure sensitivity, or fatigue issues. If a device causes them discomfort, pinching, overheating, or overstimulation, the child may resist using it, no matter how beneficial it might be.
Comfort means considering:
- Padding and skin protection
- Temperature and material sensitivity
- Ease of transfers (home, school, car)
- Device weight and noise levels
- How long a child can tolerate it physically and mentally
Consistency matters just as much. Using a device for 20 minutes a day won’t build new movement patterns or strength. But using it comfortably during school, meals, or play helps reinforce confidence and independence naturally. The best devices become part of a child’s routine and identity.
Insurance and Funding Options
Assistive devices are often life-changing, but they can also be expensive. Most families rely on a combination of insurance, state programs, and nonprofit grants to make these devices and treatment accessible.
Typical Cost Ranges
While costs vary depending on customization and features. Examples of typical costs for devices may look like:
- Communication devices (AAC): $1,000 – $15,000
- Manual wheelchairs: $2,000 – $6,000
- Power wheelchairs: $7,000 – $35,000
- Gait trainers/standers: $2,000 – $10,000
- Adaptive seating systems: $1,500 – $8,000
- Adaptive utensils/clothing aids: $10 – $500
- Home modifications (ramps, doorways): $2,000 – $15,000+
- Cochlear implants: $30,000 – $100,000+ (including $1,000 – $5,000 ongoing care costs per year)
For families, these are not luxury purchases. They are mobility, communication, and safety tools. Some financial assistance methods include:
Medicaid & CHIP
Many children with cerebral palsy qualify for Medicaid, even if their parents have private insurance. Medicaid may cover:
- Medical equipment such as wheelchairs, gait trainers, and AAC devices
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
- Home or vehicle modifications
Note: Families will usually need strong documentation and medical necessity letters from providers. Denials can happen, and appeals are common.
Private Insurance
Some private plans cover portions of assistive devices, especially if they're deemed medically necessary. Some common challenges include:
- Devices categorized as educational instead of medical
- Coverage limits on replacements
- High deductibles or co-insurance costs
Other Funding Options
- State Assistive Technology (AT) Programs: Offers device lending, low-interest loans, and demo centers.
- Nonprofits and Charitable Grants: Mobility equipment, communication technology, medical travel, and home modifications
- TRICARE (Veteran and Military Families): Programs like TRICARE and ECHO may cover adaptive equipment, augmentative communication devices, specialized therapy, and respite services.
Cerebral Palsy Assistive Devices FAQs
Written and Medically Reviewed by:
Cerebral Palsy Hub Team
Cerebral Palsy Hub was founded to help support children and their families with cerebral palsy and to create a safe space for those affected. We strive to provide the most accurate, up-to-date information, and tools to help give your child the life they deserve.
Last Updated: November 21, 2025
