3/10/2017 Cerebral Palsy - Learn Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

What Is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a blanket term for several disorders

that affect normal, healthy movement. Over 10,000 children

are diagnosed each year.

Cerebral Palsy Defined

Cerebral palsy (commonly referred to as CP)

affects normal movement in different parts of the
body and has many degrees of severity.

CP causes problems with posture, gait, muscle

tone and coordination of movement.

The word cerebral refers to the brains cerebrum, which is the

part of the brain that regulates motor function. Palsy describes
the paralysis of voluntary movement in certain parts of the body.

Some children with CP also have coexisting conditions, such as vision and hearing
impairment. These disorders are caused by brain damage and are not a direct result of
ones cerebral palsy.

Cerebral palsy does not generally affect life expectancy. Depending on how the condition is
managed, motor skills can improve or decline over time. While symptoms and severity vary from
case to case, most people diagnosed with this condition go on to lead a rich, fulfilling life.

How Does CP Affect the Body?

The brain controls all types of motor functions that allow people to live as independently as

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possible. Motor control can be voluntary, such as reaching out to shake someones hand. It can
also be involuntary, such as the reflex when a doctor taps a spot just below a patients knee.

When the motor control centers in the brain are damaged, voluntary and involuntary motor skills
do not function properly. This can present an array of challenges related to ones ability to walk,
talk or complete everyday tasks independently.

Facts and Statistics on CP

Cerebral palsy is the most common childhood physical disability. Recent estimates
conclude that nearly 764,000 people in the U.S. have CP.

There are 4 main types of cerebral palsy: Spastic, Athetoid/Dyskinetic, Ataxic and
Mixed. Spastic CP is the most common, making up about 70% of cases.

CP is a non-progressive disorder, meaning it will not get worse over time. Most cases
can be effectively managed with treatment and continued care.

2 in 3 people with cerebral palsy can walk. While some children with CP
require mobility aids, many are able to walk independently.

3 in 4 people with CP are able to verbally communicate. Oftentimes,

assistive devices are used to help improve speech and hearing.

There is no known cure for cerebral palsy. Fortunately, there are many treatments that
can help both children and adults with CP live a full life.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the fetal or infant brain. It occurs when there is
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neurological damage before, during, or within five years of birth that prevents the brain from
developing properly.

Damage to the parts of the brain that control motor function causes children with CP to struggle
with posture, balance and movement. Although this disability affects muscle tone and movement,
it isnt caused by problems with the actual muscles or nerves it is strictly the result
of developmental brain damage.

The first question many parents have following a recent CP diagnosis is what could have caused
their childs brain injury. Its important that parents work with doctors and specialists in order to
conclude which factors may have contributed to their childs condition.

Common causes of CP include:

Bacterial and viral infections

Bleeding in the brain (hemorrhaging)
A lack of oxygen to the brain before, during or after birth (asphyxia)
Prenatal exposure to drugs and alcohol, mercury poisoning from fish and toxoplasmosis
from raw/undercooked meat
Head injuries sustained during birth or in the first few years of infancy

Not every case of cerebral palsy has a clear cut explanation. Its estimated that 20 to 50 percent
of cases have unknown causes. Clinical trials are just one technique being used to conduct
further research on the potential causes of CP.

Cerebral Palsy Caused by Birth Injuries

Some children develop cerebral palsy as the result of a birth injury caused by medical
negligence. While rare, these cases are usually the product of a delivery room meltdown. Parents
who suspect their childs condition is due to negligence on the part of the doctors, nurses or
hospital facility may wish to pursue a free legal case evaluation.

A cerebral palsy lawyer can evaluate the details of your case in order to determine if there is
enough evidence to suggest medical neglect or malpractice took place. For parents who
are considering filing for a case evaluation, it is essential to seek out an attorney specializing in
birth injury cases caused by negligence.

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Could filing a lawsuit help cover the cost of your

childs treatment?

Get your free case evaluation

Risk Factors For Developing CP

Infants born prematurely are at a higher risk of developing cerebral palsy because of the
complications that arise in these births, such as bleeding in the brain. Estimates show that 10 to
30 percent of people with cerebral palsy were born prematurely. A low birth weight can also
increase the chances of developing CP.

Some additional risk factors include:

Abnormal deliveries, such as a breech birth (feet first)

Maternal diabetes or high blood pressure
Poor maternal health

What Are The Symptoms of CP?

The symptoms of cerebral palsy are different for every child. Some symptoms are hardly
noticeable, while others are more intense. The severity of a childs brain injury will ultimately
determine the symptoms that develop.

One of the first signs parents should look for is whether their child
is meeting or missing any important developmental milestones.

The most common signs of cerebral palsy are:

Problems with movement on one side of body

Stiff muscles
Exaggerated or jerky reflexes

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Involuntary movements or tremors

Lack of coordination and balance
Drooling
Problems swallowing or sucking
Difficulty with speech (dysarthria)
Seizures
Contractures (shortening of muscles)
Delayed motor skill development
Incontinence
Gastrointestinal problems

Coexisting Conditions

Damage to the developing brain can cause an array of health complications, in addition to CP.
There are a number of coexisting conditions that occur more frequently among those with
cerebral palsy when compared to the general population.

Common conditions that may be present alongside cerebral palsy include:

Epilepsy
Vision or hearing impairments
Learning disabilities
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Chronic pain or discomfort
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Speech disorders
Mental health disorders

Types of Cerebral Palsy

There are a few different types of cerebral palsy. CP is classified by the type and location of
movement problems. There are also different levels of severity among each case of cerebral
palsy.

The 4 main types are:

Spastic (70% of cases) The most common type of cerebral palsy is known as spastic
cerebral palsy. This is caused by damage to the brains motor cortex. Typical symptoms

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include stiff, exaggerated movements.

Athetoid/dyskinetic (10% ) This type is caused by injury to the brains basal ganglia,
which controls balance and coordination. Children with athetoid/dyskinetic CP often exhibit
involuntary tremors.
Ataxic (10% ) Ataxic cerebral palsy is characterized by lack of coordination and
balance. This is caused by damage to the cerebellum, which is the part of the brain that
connects to the spine.
Mixed (10% ) Some cases of cerebral palsy are classified as Mixed. This occurs when
an individual exhibits symptoms of more than one type of CP.

Cerebral palsy is also grouped by the severity or location of paralysis stemming from damage to
the developing brain. This is described using the suffix plegia, or paralysis, of one or more
limbs.

The location of paralysis is described as:

Monoplegia Paralysis of one limb

Diplegia/Paraplegia Paralysis of two limbs, usually the legs
Hemiplegia Paralysis on one side of body
Quadriplegia Paralysis of whole body (face, arms, legs, torso)
Double hemiplegia Paralysis of whole body; used to distinguish those whose arms are
more affected than their legs

These classifications illustrate how distinct each cerebral palsy diagnosis is. One person may be
diagnosed with spastic diplegia, for instance, while another is diagnosed with athetoid/dyskinetic
hemiplegia.

How is Cerebral Palsy Diagnosed?

A cerebral palsy diagnosis usually takes place anywhere between 18 months and 5 years of
age. Parents and caregivers are usually the first to notice delays in a childs development,
which is one of the first signs of cerebral palsy. However, every child develops at his or her own
pace, so doctors often hesitate to make an immediate diagnosis until further symptoms can be
observed.

Several imaging tests may be used to diagnose cerebral palsy, including:

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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Computed tomography scan (CT)
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Cranial ultrasound

If youre concerned that your child is showing developmental signs of cerebral palsy, parents
should seek out a CP specialist who can conduct observational analysis and administer
diagnostic tests. Once a diagnosis is received, parents can begin taking steps toward embracing
a life with CP.

Treatment For Cerebral Palsy

Treatment for CP is twofold there is treatment early in life and lifelong management.

Early treatment for children with cerebral palsy is important because the developing brain and
body are more resilient. This means that there are more opportunities to correct or improve some
of the childs mobility limitations during this time.

Treatment isnt focused on curing or fully correcting a childs CP. Rather, its about nurturing a
childs development so they can live as independently as possible. Many children with cerebral
palsy are completely self-sufficient and have satisfying, meaningful lives. Actively treating the
symptoms that coincide with CP is the best way to ensure the highest quality of life for a child as
they transition into adulthood.

Children with cerebral palsy can improve their motor skills with the help of traditional and
alternative therapy, medication, surgery and more. Parents should seek out a
multidisciplinary team of specialists to effectively treat their childs condition.

The multidisciplinary team may include:

Developmental pediatricians
Neurologists
Orthopedic surgeons
Physical therapists
Respiratory therapists
Speech therapists
Nutritionists
Occupational therapists
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Psychologists (to assess ability and behavior)

To learn more about the condition of cerebral palsy and various treatment options, try
downloading our free Cerebral Palsy Guide, which includes over 60 pages of in-depth
information for children and parents of a child with CP.

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GET HELP PAYING

FOR YOUR CHILD'S

CEREBRAL PALSY

TREATMENT

Get A Free Case Evaluation

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GET YOUR FREE

CEREBRAL PALSY GUIDE

Including information on:

Raising a child with CP
Managing symptoms
Birth injury causes

Get Your Free Guide

Get Answers to Your Questions:

What is cerebral palsy (CP)?

What are the most common symptoms of CP?

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How is cerebral palsy diagnosed?

Can cerebral palsy be treated?

Are there CP support organizations?

How much does treatment cost?

Could a cerebral palsy lawyer help?

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