Signs of Cerebral Palsy

The term Cerebral Palsy is not unknown, but exactly what the disorder is, is not known to many people.  Cerebral Palsy is a term that is used to actually describe a whole group of posture or chronic movement disorders.

These disorders are caused by the brain as it is not able to control the body the way it would in someone who did not have the condition. 

Cerebral Palsy can be caused by a birth related injury or even a brain injury sustained later in life.  The symptoms of Cerebral Palsy often are not seen immediately but will seen and make themselves more evident in the first few years of life.  Once the symptoms are seen they will not usually get worse over time.

Signs of Cerebral Palsy

Every patient with Cerebral Palsy will present with symptoms differently.  Because of this, you can look for symptoms but ultimately a doctor should be consulted to determine if Cerebral Palsy is really a concern.  Some of the more common signs and symptoms of Cerebral Palsy include but are not limited to:

1. Trouble moving from one position to another.
2. Trouble sitting upright when the patient is at an age where sitting up should be easily achieved.
3. Difficulty mastering tasks that involve fine motor skills.  These tasks may include writing, buttoning a shirt, using scissors, etc.
4. Difficulty mastering tasks that involve gross motor skills.  These tasks may include walking, kicking a ball, riding a tricycle, or running.
5. Uncontrollable shaking or jerking of the legs, arms, or torso.
6. Abnormal drooling or weakened muscles of the face, often including the loss of control of the tongue.
7. Weak muscles.
8. Difficulty sucking and/or swallowing.

While these symptoms may not mean much in and of themselves, often when you put them together with a physical examination and with several of them together a doctor may begin to suspect that Cerebral Palsy is the culprit.  It is important that parents do not simply assume that their child has Cerebral Palsy, but that they consult their physician.  In some cases the child may simply be delayed in development because they were born premature, or simply because every child progresses at his or her own schedule.  What is “normal” for one child may not be “normal” for the next, which is why if you are concerned, your doctor should be your first stop.

If Cerebral Palsy is the diagnosis it may be scary and upsetting, but this is a disorder that many people are able to live with, going on to do great things with their life despite the disorder and any symptoms that it presents.  While the extent of the disorder will differ from person to person, many people are able to control their symptoms with medication and physical therapy.  Others might need help with mobility such as a cane, crutches, or even a wheel chair.  Again, no two cases of Cerebral Palsy are exactly the same, therefore it’s important to take it one day at a time and approach the disorder one day and one obstacle at a time.