Signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy
Poor gross or fine motor (movement) skills are the most common signs that your child may have CP. If your child is not rolling, sitting or walking by the expected time, it may be a sign that they have CP. Other signs may include:
- floppy or stiff muscles
- unusual muscle movements
- seizures
The symptoms of CP may be more or less severe, depending on the type of CP and the area of the brain that has been injured.
Some children with CP have normal intellect. Other children have severe brain damage or poor hearing and vision. Any of these conditions can make it harder for the child to communicate.
Different types of CP cause different symptoms:
Spastic
This is the most common form of CP. Symptoms include:
- tight muscles and exaggerated reflexes
- difficulty moving
- a few muscles or the whole body may be affected
Athetoid
This type of CP is marked by involuntary movements. Other symptoms include:
- squirming
- looking as if the child is constantly moving
Atonic
The atonic child is weak, floppy and lacks normal muscle tone. Symptoms of this type of CP include:
- poor balance
- poor depth perception
- an unsteady walk
- poor coordination
Mixed
This type of CP occurs when the child has a combination of spastic, athetoid or atonic CP symptoms.
CP can affect different parts of the body. There are terms to describe the part of the body affected:
- monoplegia: one arm or one leg is affected
- hemiplegia: the arm and leg on the same side are affected
- paraplegia: only the legs are affected
- diplegia: paralysis of similar parts on both sides of the body
- quadriplegia: both arms and both legs are affected