About 10,000 babies will develop cerebral palsy this year in the U.S. It's an incurable disorder typically caused by injury during birth.
While most kids have normal IQ levels ,they have trouble controlling their muscles, and many struggle to speak.
Now, a device designed to help stroke survivors is helping one boy find his voice.
Jude Countryman has a hard time sitting still.
He has cerebral palsy. When he was born, his umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck, damaging nerves that control his mouth and tongue. He struggles with talking and eating.
When his parents didn't see enough progress with speech and occupational therapy they turned to a device designed for stroke patients.
A small electrical current contracts his facial muscles, strengthening them.
Patients use the vitalstim device three times a week for about an hour, in combination with speech therapy.
The more they can eat and swallow and practice that movement while we've got those electrodes on, the better results.
