What Is Cerebral Palsy?

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Cerebral Palsy Overview

Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term referring to movement disorders that result from pathology in the brain. The subtype of cerebral palsy will depend on the type of problems present.

According to Healthline, there are several types of cerebral palsy, including:

• Spastic cerebral palsy: characterized by walking abnormalities, muscle weakness, and paralysis.
• Dyskinetic cerebral palsy: involves involuntary, abnormal movements.
• Hypotonic cerebral palsy: includes overly relaxed muscles, diminished muscle tone, and floppy extremities.
• Ataxic cerebral palsy: characterized by voluntary muscle movements that are disorganized, clumsy, or jerky in appearance.
• Mixed cerebral palsy: a combination of several cerebral palsy types, most commonly a mix of spastic and dyskinetic.

Cerebral Palsy Symptoms

Symptoms may vary depending on the age of an infant. In babies younger than six months, symptoms may include a lagging head when picked up, stiff body, floppy extremities, overextended back and neck, and stiff or crossing legs when picked up.

Babies between six and ten months of age may not roll in either direction, cannot bring their hands together, cannot bring hands to their mouth, and reach with only one hand while the other hand remains fisted and close to the body.

In babies older than 10 months of age, symptoms may include a lopsided crawl (pushing with one hand and leg while dragging the other extremities) and scooting around on the buttocks or hopping on knees rather than crawling.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

According to the Mayo Clinic, cerebral palsy is caused by any sort of abnormal brain development or damage to the brain. Before, during, or shortly after birth, any number of situations can cause a child to develop the condition.

A mother’s illness during pregnancy can cause infants to develop cerebral palsy. Rubella, varicella, cytomegalovirus, herpes, toxoplasmosis, syphilis, zika virus infection, exposure to toxins, thyroid problems, and seizures may all contribute to a child developing cerebral palsy. Additionally, if a child falls ill with bacterial meningitis, viral encephalitis, or jaundice after birth they may be at risk for developing the condition.

Problems during birth may also cause cerebral palsy. Breech births, complicated labor/delivery, low birth weight, multiple babies, premature birth, lack of oxygen, and traumatic brain injury during birth can all lead to brain damage which in turn can cause cerebral palsy.

Treatment for Cerebral Palsy

There is no cure for cerebral palsy but a combination of medicine, surgery, braces, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy may help to improve the lives of children with the condition. A doctor will evaluate a child’s situation and put together the best possible treatment plan that will maximize benefits while decreasing risks.

Cerebral Palsy Legal Action

In some cases, parents of children with cerebral palsy may choose to take legal action against medical professionals if they believe that their child’s condition is a result of a birth injury. In birth injury lawsuits, parents may be able to collect money to help compensate them for the cost of taking care of their child as well as the emotional effects of raising a child with cerebral palsy.