Hi everyone,
I've had this startle reflex for my whole life. I just learned, however that's it's due to cp. This really gets annoying since there are a lot of loud noises in my life. No one understands that I jump so much because of cp. I can understand that, since I didn't know either, but I'm sick of dealing with it. Does anyone know of a way to repress it?
Thanks :)

I guess I should search more because I just found another thread on this topic...oops...anyway...glad to know that everyone with spastic cp has this...well not glad...but ya know what I mean ;) Anyway...since I'm the only one in my life who knows it is because of cp...how do I tell people NOW? should I just let it go? I mean I'm almost 18 years old :rolleyes:

Hmmm...this thread doesn't seem to be doing well........ :(

Yes Nutcase16,

most people with Spastic CP have an exaggerated Startle Reflex, but this reflex is seen in our AB (able bodied) population too :)

I have found that exercise and good muscle building can keep this reflex down. In my life I have known more women that have had it more severe than men

Hi musicmaker650 :)

Yes, I have found that exercising keeps this reflex down. Since I'm in band, the more I tell myself that a bang is coming, the higher I jump when it does. I guess psychology mixed in with it, too then. My mother (who is AB) told me that my dad came up behind her when she was vacuuming and he scared her so bad, she cried. :( So, for a while I thought it was heriditary or something. I told her about the different types of cp, and the different limbs cp can affect and she didn't even realize. Guess ya learn something new everyday! Thanks for the info!
-Mollie :D

Hello Mollie,

what type of band? Not marching I hope :) I was in a "rock" band for 10 years, from 16 to 26 years old. Those loud drums and guitars were something! I learned to use earplugs to protect my ears, and I even used pieces of bar napkins when I played, or listened to other bands in clubs. I have a friend that has CP too. He jumps when I touch him on the shoulder, even when I'm sitting next to him, and he knows I'm there... So don't worry ;)

Hey musicmaker650 :)

A rock band......AWESOME! What did you play? Yeah, I've thought about earplugs and such, but it'd be more trouble than it's worth. I only play in concert band....though I did try marching band from the pit, but I quit after a week because I realized you need a lot of strength in your wrists, and mine are tight, since cp affects those a little bit, too. Ah well, I tried :D

Mollie :cool:

Hi Mollie,

I was in a guitar based "rock" band 1966 to 1976... I'm a little older than you, but I was also born with CP and that didn't stop me one bit. It won't stop you either. Just be who you want to be and do what you want to do. Don't sweat the small stuff. Have fun!

Hi Nutcase and MusicMaker :angel:

I'm 14 and I have one of the worst startle reflexes on the planet. Someone could just call for me when I'm in another room and I jump so high I fall down and hurt myself. I'm getting sick of it by now, but you get used to it after a while. Usually when I'm busy I shut my door and leave a note so people don't disturb me.

School is the worst by far though. My mother doesn't want it on my record that I have CP, so I can't talk about it to anyone, or let anyone know that I have a bad startle reflex. I'm learning though, that if meds don't help, my teachers will let me control the problem by stretching while someone else takes my notes for a few minutes.

Hope I helped ya!

~CG101~

PS: MusicMaker is right, as usual! Don't let CP stop you from pursuing your dreams. I'm going to be an English teacher when I'm older, and I won't let my CP get in the way!

Hey chorusgirl101 :D
None of my teachers know that I have a startle reflex from cp, I don't think. Actually, I can't tell, they don't say anything about it :) I just recently learned it was from cp...so my parents didn't even know about it either, but I've mentioned it to them, but I don't think I will to anyone else...no point in making them feel bad.
Anyway, I love English! I wanted to be an English teacher for a long time, but now I'm thinking about journalism (College starts in September...yay!)
-Mollie =0) :D
Edited to add: Meds for the startle reflex? How well do they work? Any side effects?

I take English through my local college (school district decided I was too smart for regular English courses, LOL :p )....it's awesome! Actually, there are a few courses I take because I'm a pretty accomplished and skilled writer too. Right now I'm trying to handle Advanced Composition, English 102, and Creative Writing. I have straight A's right now and hopefully I can keep it going. As for the CP, I talked to the professor and he gives me copies of his notes when I'm flared up, which works pretty well.

~CG101~

No meds for the reflex yet...though I wish there were...muscle relaxants for the muscles that are tightened due to the exaggerated reflex though. Either I take them or I take ibuprofen to put me out of the misery....depends on what you want to do. I'd ask your doc about it, but they sure do work! :)

~CG101~

Thanks for the info on the meds! WOW...you take college courses at 14???????? THAT'S AWESOME :D I did fine in my AP English class last semester....but I don't think I'm gonna take the test....I can't take the pressure...I did fine on the practice exams...but I just have this instinct that it's not gonna be worth the $73 for me to take it....I've also been in many a writing course (though not at college levels) and I LOVE(D) them too! =0)

I love taking my classes and my family and I don't pay a cent because it's looked at as an alternative to typical courses, so it's covered by our district. I have three papers due next week though, so I'll talk soon....one is a narrative on my life as a disabled teen, actually, and that's the only one going easily.

I have to go do my papers.....so I'll talk REALLY soon.

~CG101~

I hope you had a good vacation, and I hope those papers went well =0). I'd love to read some of your narrative paper :)
It's not Monday :),
Mollie :D

Yes Mollie,

I'd like to read the narrative too. I was a disabled teen in the 1960's. Something dealing with peer pressure, self-esteem, and relationships with family and friends :)

I have a feeling this goes along with the exaggerated startle reflex but I still want to ask about it. I blink every time a flash on a camera goes off. Ok, so I KNOW this is part of the reflex, but still. When I was younger, I DO remember blinking at the sound of a hammer; in fact my mother remembers that happening when I was three weeks old. But, for some reason, I don't remember blinking as much at a flash as I have been. (Obviously because my eyes were open in pictures). But recently, I've really had to try not to blink at the sight of cameras while maintaining a smile on my face. My senior pictures came out well, but they were done by a professional photographer, and I'm wondering if a professional flash would cause me not to blink. But then again, I've had to retake family portraits many times because my eyes were closed. I'm only worried about this because my sister is getting married next year and I'm in the wedding party (MOH...YAY :) ) I don't want to have all the professional pictures (which she paid A LOT of money for) to come out with me blinking. Has anyone ever talked to an eye doctor about this? Is there anything I can do? Thanks! Sorry SO LONG...but the question was on my mind.
-Mollie :D
Edited because I lost some grammar skills :p

Hello again,

just try and not look directly at the camera or flash... If your able to drink a couple of glasses of Champagne, 20 minutes before the pictures, this might help you relax and not blink so much. A low-dose of Valium is also one more option :) At least, you get my point. I had a girlfriend with Ataxic CP, and this approach worked for her. She was older than you though. I don't want to promote under age drinking :)

Thanks musicmaker, that may work! I'll only be 19 at the time, but I'm sure I can have a bit of champagne. (shhh) I'll just find the happy medium between not blinking and not being drunk in front of the camera! :p :angel: :bouncing:
Mollie :D

... and be sure to try and get daily exercise. Keep yourself in the best physical shape you can. Physical conditioning controls unwanted reflex actions. Even "mild" exercise can be good! You notice I use "mild" here. I would never use "mild" to describe ANY case of CP though! Just make it to age 54 and you'll see why I insist on this...

LOL does jumping around in my room and dancing count?....I do it for about 45 minutes just because I have so much energy...and I feel like I'll collapse afterwards...haha I do go to PT once a week and rotate from land/pool therapy...that helps....and I run just as much as everyone else in my gym class (regular class) I even beat some girls when we do pull ups :D I just love to exercise...and I go swimming just about everyday in the summer. Can you tell I love to exercise? LOL sometimes when I watch those shows about people on an exercise program...I get so motivated that I start to exercise right then and there at around 11:00 at night! (Which is probably why I don't blink EVERY time at the flash of a camera.)
I completely understand why you don't call any cp "mild" I've had numerous people tell me that I will age quicker than most people...and I probably will have painful back problems....so I exercise as much as I can to try and curve it a little! =0)
Thanks for the advice! :)
Mollie :D

I'm 14 and I have really bad problems in my back, so don't feel bad (FYI, this IS CG101...I lost my password and used an inactive email to sign up, so I had to make a new username). My muscles are spastic on my right side (AFFECTED), and the left ones are loose (NOT AFFECTED), so the unbalanced tone causes pain and all sorts of other issues.

We with CP age quicker mentally and physically, just not on the *calendar*! Get used to it!

I would never call anyone mild either, I'm mild/moderate, but the effects and health issues are many. I learned that even at my young age!

Yeah, my right side is more affected than my left side too. But, I am still affected by it a bit in my left wrist, too. Sometimes, I feel pain in my left hip because my right side is more affected, too.
Ahh well I learn to roll with the punches! :)

My left side is NOT AFFECTED AT ALL....I'm a right hemi.

If you don't roll with the punches, you don't survive! That's the way it is!

You girls seem to be doing just fine. I was active in sports when I was your age, lifting weights, swimming and playing wheelchair basketball. My legs are affected, but I have always walked, using 2 canes. My right side coordination is poorer than my left. I have no speech problems, and I have led a pretty normal adult life. I was living on my own at 18, and I was married to my first wife at 22. So you two, can do it too :)

Sorry sassy--
I knew that your left side isn't affected, I just meant that I'm similar to you in that my right side is MORE affected than the left.
Once again musicmaker, you give me hope! :D

Hi nutcase,

Does startle reflex occur in spastic hemi-paresis cp? My daughter is weak on her right side. I've never noticed her to be jolty or anything like that. Is it something that may come with age?

Take care,
Melissa

Hello again Melissa,
everyone can have a "startle reflex". AB's as well as the "brain injured". It comes in varying flavors. I have never had much of a problem with it. If I'm over-tired or have too much caffeine, it seems to become worse. I was born with Spastic Hemiplegia CP. I have a friend with the same type of CP, and you can look him in the eye and touch him on the shoulder, and he will jump!

YAY :D
One of the reasons I originally started this post was because I didn't know how to respond when people thought it was funny when I startled. I finally began to tell some friends. (2 days before I'm out of HS of course) Anyway, we got on the subject of talking about it, and I just said, "I'm not actually scared when I jump. I have increased tone in my muscle which makes me startle like that." Most of my friends understood I have cp, or could at least see a difference in the way I walk, so that must have put a lightbulb in their brain. I'm so happy I finally told some of my friends :cool: I would've done it sooner, but I didn't know how to bring it up without people taking pity on me. YAY ME.
And, I'm glad this post was helpful for you, Melissa. People on this board helped me to know specifically what this is.