What is cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a group of problems that affects body movement and posture. It is related to a brain injury or to problems with brain growth. It is one of the most common causes of lasting disability in children. Cerebral palsy occurs in about 2 to 2.5 out of every 1,000 people.¹

Cerebral palsy causes reflex movements that a person can't control and muscle tightness that may affect parts or all of the body. These problems can range from mild to severe. Mental retardation, seizures, and vision and hearing problems can occur.

Learning that your child has cerebral palsy is not easy, and raising a child who has it can be very hard. But the more you know, the better you can care for and provide for your child.

What causes cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy is caused by a brain injury or problem that occurs during pregnancy, birth, or within the first 2 to 3 years of a child’s life. Cerebral palsy can be caused by:

• Problems from being born too early (premature birth).
• Not getting enough blood, oxygen, or other nutrients before or during birth.
• A serious head injury.
• A serious infection that can affect the brain, such as meningitis.
• Some problems passed from parent to child (genetic conditions) that affect brain development.

In many cases, the exact cause of cerebral palsy is not known.

What are the symptoms?

Everyone with cerebral palsy has problems with body movement and posture. But the physical problems are worse for some people than for others. Some people with cerebral palsy have only a slight limp or a hard time walking. Other people have little or no control over their arms and legs or other parts of the body, such as the mouth and tongue, which can cause problems with eating and speaking. People with severe forms of cerebral palsy are more likely to have other problems, such as seizures or mental retardation.

Babies with severe cerebral palsy often have problems with their posture. Their bodies may be either very floppy or very stiff. Birth defects, such as a spine that doesn't have the normal shape, a small jawbone, or a small head, sometimes occur along with cerebral palsy.

The brain injury or problem that causes cerebral palsy does not get worse over time. But new symptoms may appear, or symptoms may change or get worse as your child gets older. This is why some babies born with cerebral palsy do not show clear signs of it right away.

How is cerebral palsy diagnosed?

Most of the time, doctors will diagnose cerebral palsy based on a child's medical history. Your doctor will ask about your child’s growth and about any problems you may have noticed. You may be asked to answer questions about your child’s development. The doctor may also do a physical exam.