Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesCausesRisk FactorsSigns and SymptomsScreening and DiagnosisTreatmentLife ExpectancyCaring for Someone With CPNext in Cerebral Palsy GuideCauses and Risk Factors of Cerebral Palsy
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Causes
Risk Factors
Signs and Symptoms
Screening and Diagnosis
Treatment
Life Expectancy
Caring for Someone With CP
Next in Cerebral Palsy Guide
The effects of cerebral palsy can range from very mild to severe, and the condition lasts throughout a person’s life. Symptoms can include learning delays, inability to walk, and speech impairment. This article describes the types, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and how to care for someone with cerebral palsy.
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Types of Cerebral Palsy
There are a few differenttypes of cerebral palsy. These types differ based on the physical effects and the areas of brain damage.
It can be difficult to recognize the type of cerebral palsy when observing someone casually, but a medical examination can determine which type of cerebral palsy a person has. Knowing the type of cerebral palsy can help anticipate outcomes and guide a treatment plan.
Spastic Cerebral Palsy
Spastic cerebral palsy can range in severity. For some people, a limited body area is affected, such as one arm, one leg, or the neck. However, spastic cerebral palsy may cause substantial limitations in movement, such as the inability to walk, use the arms, or speak clearly, along with spasticity affecting the arms, legs, trunk, and head.
Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy
Dyskinesiais a type of involuntary movement that can occur with movement or at rest. The movements are slow, smooth, and purposeless. People who have dyskinetic cerebral palsy are typically aware of the movements, but unable to stop them from happening.
Dyskinetic cerebral palsy may affect both sides of the body or may cause involuntary movement in one area, such as the fingers on one hand.
Ataxic Cerebral Palsy
Ataxiais a lack of coordination. Ataxic cerebral palsy can cause physical imbalance of the whole body or may impair coordination of one side or one area of the body. It occurs due to damage to the cerebellum, which is the area of the brain that controls the coordination of physical movement.
Mixed Cerebral Palsy
Many people who have cerebral palsy have a mixed type. The most common mixed pattern is spastic dyskinetic cerebral palsy.
What Causes Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy occurs when a child has brain damage during prenatal development or within the first days of birth.
The damage can occur due to:
Causes and Risk Factors of Cerebral Palsy
Risk Factors for Cerebral Palsy
Some factors increase the likelihood of a child having cerebral palsy. However, a child can have cerebral palsy even without risk factors.
Health Problems of the Pregnant Person
Pregnancy and Childbirth
A condition calledeclampsiamay also increase the risk of cerebral palsy. This is when the pregnant person experiences sudden, severe high blood pressure and seizures at the late stages of pregnancy or during labor and delivery.
Preventing Pregnancy ComplicationsPrenatal care is a vital part of reducing the risk of cerebral palsy. Pregnant people should maintain adequate nutrition (often requiring vitamin supplementation), update their vaccinations, and not smoke, use drugs, or consume alcohol.
Preventing Pregnancy Complications
Prenatal care is a vital part of reducing the risk of cerebral palsy. Pregnant people should maintain adequate nutrition (often requiring vitamin supplementation), update their vaccinations, and not smoke, use drugs, or consume alcohol.
Infant Illness
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is known to affect physical development of a child. Often cognitive development is impacted as well, and many children who have cerebral palsy also have learning challenges.
Signs of cerebral palsy and young babies:
Children who have mild cerebral palsy might not develop symptoms until early childhood or later.
Early childhood symptoms of cerebral palsy include:
Depending on the severity of cerebral palsy, some children may have all of the signs while others may only have one or two. The condition does not worsen as a child gets older.But with increasing expectations of learning and motor development, some of the impairments can become more obvious as a child is growing into the early toddler years.
What Is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is usually identified after a child is born.
After birth, tests that may support a diagnosis of cerebral palsy include:
Treatment for Cerebral Palsy
Getting a diagnosis of cerebral palsy as early as possible is important. Treatment and management can help optimize a child’s learning and physical abilities.
The condition cannot be cured, and there is no known method of repairing areas of brain damage.However, with early therapy, a child may be able to strengthen and control unaffected muscles. Additionally, early interventions can help a child to learn at their own pace rather than struggling to keep up.
Interventions can be beneficial for children with cerebral palsy, but interventions have limitations for children with severe impairment.
Medication
Medication plays an important role in the care of some children and adults who have cerebral palsy. Medication is used for symptomatic treatment, and the necessary treatment will differ based on the effects of the condition.
Medications commonly used in cerebral palsy include:
Assistive Devices and Braces
For many people with cerebral palsy, a brace or other type of device can hold areas of the body in a selected position. Braces and similar devices help preventmuscle contracturesandmuscle atrophy.
Additionally, many people who have cerebral palsy require a walker or, more commonly, a wheelchair, to get around.When a wheelchair is necessary, the home may need to be modified with ramps or wide doorways.
Transportation may rely on a vehicle that is equipped to accommodate a wheelchair. Outings will require advance planning to ensure that places are equipped with ramps so that a person can enter with their wheelchair.
Surgery
Some complications of cerebral palsy require surgical treatment.This can include severe muscle contractures, an abscess, or intestinal obstruction due to severe constipation. In some instances, epilepsy surgery may be required for treatment of epilepsy that is not improved with medication.
Occupational Therapy
Physical therapy and occupational therapy are both crucial for maintaining function and quality of life with cerebral palsy.Physical therapy is directed toward strengthening muscles and preventing contractures. Occupational therapy is aimed at learning how to take care of day-to-day tasks safely and effectively.
Occupational vs. Physical Therapy: Patient Questions
How Does Cerebral Palsy Affect Life Expectancy?
The life expectancy of a person with cerebral palsydepends on the severity of their condition and which aspects of their physical and cognitive abilities are impaired.
For example, people who have mild cerebral palsy might have a life expectancy equivalent to that of the general population. But a person who has difficulty swallowing due to cerebral palsy is at high risk ofaspiration pneumoniaand may have a risk of dying earlier due to this complication.
Common complications of cerebral palsy include:
Caring for Someone With Cerebral Palsy
Many people with cerebral palsy can function almost independently and may need help with only a few activities. This can include help with getting into and out of a car or putting on a brace or other supportive physical device.
However, people with severe cerebral palsy may need help with almost all tasks. Taking care of someone with substantial limitations due to cerebral palsy can be time-consuming, physically demanding, and emotionally draining.
It is important to seek advice and support from the healthcare team, as well as social workers and others who are knowledgeable about the methods of caring for people with cerebral palsy.
Many organizations can provide help, direction, and support. These include advocacy organizations, community resources, support groups, and more.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is cerebral palsy?National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Cerebral palsy.Shepherd E, Salam RA, Middleton P, Han S, Makrides M, McIntyre S, Badawi N, Crowther CA.Neonatal interventions for preventing cerebral palsy: an overview of Cochrane Systematic Reviews.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2018;6(6):CD012409. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012409.pub2Shepherd E, Salam RA, Middleton P, Makrides M, McIntyre S, Badawi N, Crowther CA.Antenatal and intrapartum interventions for preventing cerebral palsy: an overview of Cochrane systematic reviews.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2017;8(8):CD012077. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012077.pub2Rouabhi A, Husein N, Dewey D, et al.Development of a bedside tool to predict the diagnosis of cerebral palsy in term-born neonates.JAMA Pediatr. 2023:e225177. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.5177Bertoncelli CM, Dehan N, Bertoncelli D, Bagui S, Bagui SC, Costantini S, Solla F.Prediction model for identifying factors associated with epilepsy in children with cerebral palsy.Children (Basel). 2022;9(12):1918. doi:10.3390/children9121918Imanieh MH, Golpayegan MR, Sedighi M, Ahmadi K, Aghaie A, Dehghani SM, Yousefi G.Comparison of three therapeutic interventions for chronic constipation in paediatric patients with cerebral palsy: a randomised clinical trial.Prz Gastroenterol. 2019;14(4):292-297. doi:10.5114/pg.2019.84872Day SM, Reynolds RJ, Kush SJ.Extrapolating published survival curves to obtain evidence-based estimates of life expectancy in cerebral palsy.Dev Med Child Neurol. 2015;57(12):1105-1118. doi:10.1111/dmcn.12849
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is cerebral palsy?National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Cerebral palsy.Shepherd E, Salam RA, Middleton P, Han S, Makrides M, McIntyre S, Badawi N, Crowther CA.Neonatal interventions for preventing cerebral palsy: an overview of Cochrane Systematic Reviews.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2018;6(6):CD012409. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012409.pub2Shepherd E, Salam RA, Middleton P, Makrides M, McIntyre S, Badawi N, Crowther CA.Antenatal and intrapartum interventions for preventing cerebral palsy: an overview of Cochrane systematic reviews.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2017;8(8):CD012077. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012077.pub2Rouabhi A, Husein N, Dewey D, et al.Development of a bedside tool to predict the diagnosis of cerebral palsy in term-born neonates.JAMA Pediatr. 2023:e225177. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.5177Bertoncelli CM, Dehan N, Bertoncelli D, Bagui S, Bagui SC, Costantini S, Solla F.Prediction model for identifying factors associated with epilepsy in children with cerebral palsy.Children (Basel). 2022;9(12):1918. doi:10.3390/children9121918Imanieh MH, Golpayegan MR, Sedighi M, Ahmadi K, Aghaie A, Dehghani SM, Yousefi G.Comparison of three therapeutic interventions for chronic constipation in paediatric patients with cerebral palsy: a randomised clinical trial.Prz Gastroenterol. 2019;14(4):292-297. doi:10.5114/pg.2019.84872Day SM, Reynolds RJ, Kush SJ.Extrapolating published survival curves to obtain evidence-based estimates of life expectancy in cerebral palsy.Dev Med Child Neurol. 2015;57(12):1105-1118. doi:10.1111/dmcn.12849
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is cerebral palsy?National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Cerebral palsy.Shepherd E, Salam RA, Middleton P, Han S, Makrides M, McIntyre S, Badawi N, Crowther CA.Neonatal interventions for preventing cerebral palsy: an overview of Cochrane Systematic Reviews.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2018;6(6):CD012409. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012409.pub2Shepherd E, Salam RA, Middleton P, Makrides M, McIntyre S, Badawi N, Crowther CA.Antenatal and intrapartum interventions for preventing cerebral palsy: an overview of Cochrane systematic reviews.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2017;8(8):CD012077. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012077.pub2Rouabhi A, Husein N, Dewey D, et al.Development of a bedside tool to predict the diagnosis of cerebral palsy in term-born neonates.JAMA Pediatr. 2023:e225177. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.5177Bertoncelli CM, Dehan N, Bertoncelli D, Bagui S, Bagui SC, Costantini S, Solla F.Prediction model for identifying factors associated with epilepsy in children with cerebral palsy.Children (Basel). 2022;9(12):1918. doi:10.3390/children9121918Imanieh MH, Golpayegan MR, Sedighi M, Ahmadi K, Aghaie A, Dehghani SM, Yousefi G.Comparison of three therapeutic interventions for chronic constipation in paediatric patients with cerebral palsy: a randomised clinical trial.Prz Gastroenterol. 2019;14(4):292-297. doi:10.5114/pg.2019.84872Day SM, Reynolds RJ, Kush SJ.Extrapolating published survival curves to obtain evidence-based estimates of life expectancy in cerebral palsy.Dev Med Child Neurol. 2015;57(12):1105-1118. doi:10.1111/dmcn.12849
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is cerebral palsy?
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Cerebral palsy.
Shepherd E, Salam RA, Middleton P, Han S, Makrides M, McIntyre S, Badawi N, Crowther CA.Neonatal interventions for preventing cerebral palsy: an overview of Cochrane Systematic Reviews.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2018;6(6):CD012409. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012409.pub2
Shepherd E, Salam RA, Middleton P, Makrides M, McIntyre S, Badawi N, Crowther CA.Antenatal and intrapartum interventions for preventing cerebral palsy: an overview of Cochrane systematic reviews.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2017;8(8):CD012077. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012077.pub2
Rouabhi A, Husein N, Dewey D, et al.Development of a bedside tool to predict the diagnosis of cerebral palsy in term-born neonates.JAMA Pediatr. 2023:e225177. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.5177
Bertoncelli CM, Dehan N, Bertoncelli D, Bagui S, Bagui SC, Costantini S, Solla F.Prediction model for identifying factors associated with epilepsy in children with cerebral palsy.Children (Basel). 2022;9(12):1918. doi:10.3390/children9121918
Imanieh MH, Golpayegan MR, Sedighi M, Ahmadi K, Aghaie A, Dehghani SM, Yousefi G.Comparison of three therapeutic interventions for chronic constipation in paediatric patients with cerebral palsy: a randomised clinical trial.Prz Gastroenterol. 2019;14(4):292-297. doi:10.5114/pg.2019.84872
Day SM, Reynolds RJ, Kush SJ.Extrapolating published survival curves to obtain evidence-based estimates of life expectancy in cerebral palsy.Dev Med Child Neurol. 2015;57(12):1105-1118. doi:10.1111/dmcn.12849
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