Understanding Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is defined as “a disability resulting from damage to the brain, leading to diverse challenges in cognitive and motor functions.” Understanding cerebral palsy symptoms is essential for early recognition, effective intervention, and improving overall quality of life, which is why we will explore them today.

What is cerebral palsy? 

Cerebral palsy (CP) describes a group of disorders that affect a person’s mobility and balance. It’s caused by damage to the brain, usually during pregnancy or childbirth, but occasionally in early childhood. 

Those who seek a sense of what life with CP may look like usually deal with more questions than answers. How significant are these challenges? What do they look like in real life? Are these challenges treatable?

Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability in childhood, affecting approximately 1 in every 345 children. In some cases, cerebral palsy symptoms are evident soon after birth.  In many other cases, children are diagnosed with cerebral palsy in later infancy or toddlerhood, as symptoms become more apparent. 

Cerebral palsy symptoms

In truth, cerebral palsy is a highly individualized condition, and it presents differently for each person. All types of cerebral palsy affect how a person moves, balances, and coordinates movements and posture. 

However, someone with severe cerebral palsy, for example, may be wheelchair-bound, while someone with mild cerebral palsy symptoms may walk independently with just a slight limp.

There are four types of cerebral palsy:

1. Spastic cerebral palsy

People experiencing cerebral palsy symptoms of the spastic type have stiff and tight muscles, resulting in jerky or awkward movements. This is the most common form, affecting approximately 75% of all individuals with cerebral palsy. 

Spastic cerebral palsy symptoms often manifest as difficulty walking, stiffness in limbs, muscle weakness, and exaggerated reflexes. Individuals may also experience muscle spasms or contractures, limiting their range of motion and causing discomfort or pain. 

2. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy:

People with dyskinetic cerebral palsy symptoms struggle significantly with controlling the movements of their hands, feet, arms, or legs. Balance, coordination, walking, and fine motor skills typically present significant challenges. 

Dyskinetic cerebral palsy may also affect facial muscles, resulting in drooling or involuntary facial expressions. Notably, dyskinetic cerebral palsy symptoms typically do not include intellectual disabilities, setting it apart from other types.

3. Ataxic cerebral palsy

Ataxic cerebral palsy symptoms primarily involve challenges with coordination, balance, and depth perception. Individuals experiencing these symptoms may find tasks requiring precise movements particularly challenging, such as buttoning clothes, writing, or turning the pages of a book. 

They may also have difficulties with tasks requiring coordination of hand-eye movements, like catching a ball or using utensils. Ataxic cerebral palsy symptoms may also impact walking, causing individuals to have an unsteady gait and increasing their risk of falls.

4.  Mixed cerebral palsy

Individuals with mixed cerebral palsy symptoms display characteristics of two or more cerebral palsy types. The most common form of mixed cerebral palsy is a combination of spastic and dyskinetic types. 

Symptoms can vary widely, encompassing the stiff, jerky movements associated with spastic cerebral palsy along with the involuntary movements seen in dyskinetic cerebral palsy. Because mixed cerebral palsy symptoms are diverse, personalized treatment and management strategies become crucial to address each individual's unique needs.

Why early diagnosis is key

The signs of CP vary greatly because there are so many different forms of cerebral palsy symptoms, along with different levels of disability. 

The primary signs of cerebral palsy in infants are delays in reaching motor or movement-related milestones, like rolling over, sitting, or using a pincer grasp. Infants with cerebral palsy may be overly stiff or floppy, and they may not lift their heads properly.

However, as anyone with several children will tell you, no two kids are alike. Each child develops at their own pace, and not meeting developmental milestones within the standard timeframe is not necessarily cause for alarm. 

If you’re concerned that your child is not meeting his/her developmental milestones or might have cerebral palsy, contact your doctor and share your concerns. Your doctor will evaluate your child’s symptoms and may refer you to a specialist to ensure an accurate diagnosis. 

Co-occurring conditions

People who have cerebral palsy sometimes have other conditions as well. Here’s a list of some of those conditions commonly linked to CP.

• Seizure disorders: Approximately 41% of children with cerebral palsy have recurring seizures and are diagnosed with a condition called epilepsy. Most cases of epilepsy can be effectively treated with medication.
• Oral motor dysfunction: Children with cerebral palsy often have problems with feeding, swallowing, and drooling. This is due to weakened motor control and difficulty controlling the muscles in their throat and mouth. Speech and occupational therapy can be instrumental in lessening these symptoms.
• Intellectual disabilities: About two-thirds of children with cerebral palsy have some kind of intellectual disability. Of those, about half have a mild disability, while half have a moderate to severe diagnosis.
• Speech impairment: More than half of children diagnosed with cerebral palsy struggle to control the muscles needed for speech, resulting in dysarthria (a speech disorder). Speech therapists can often help treat this disorder and help with effective communication.
• Visual impairment: Many children with cerebral palsy have a mild visual impairment, such as a lazy eye or an astigmatism. About 1 in 10 people with cerebral palsy suffer from severe visual impairments or blindness.

Recognizing and addressing these co-occurring conditions alongside cerebral palsy symptoms is crucial for providing comprehensive care and improving the overall quality of life for individuals with CP.

What can be done to help?

While there’s no known cure for cerebral palsy, proper treatment, therapy, and special cerebral palsy exercises can help manage its symptoms. 

Since cerebral palsy often affects multiple muscle groups at once, it’s important to work with a multidisciplinary team to develop a treatment plan. Interventions should begin as soon as the diagnosis is made, as early in a child’s life as possible. 

Early intervention has proven to make a huge difference, with children with CP who did aggressive therapy at an early age having a higher overall functioning.

Treatment of cerebral palsy

Treatment for cerebral palsy symptoms can include any (or all) of the following:

• Medications: Medications can help relax stiff muscles and reduce unwanted movements. Seizure medications can also effectively treat epilepsy, a common co-occurring condition of cerebral palsy.
• Physical therapy: Physical therapists can develop an exercise regimen to improve muscle control, coordination, and strength.
• Occupational therapy: Occupational therapists play a pivotal role in helping individuals with cerebral palsy achieve crucial life skills such as getting dressed, eating, and doing homework.
• Speech therapy: People with cerebral palsy often have difficulty communicating, and a speech therapist can work with them to improve their speech and oral motor control.
• Psychosocial interventions: Individuals with cerebral palsy may face intellectual and behavioral challenges, as well as attention deficits. It’s important to collaborate with mental health professionals and educators to support their social, emotional, and academic success.

With a robust plan of support, therapy, and services in place, people with CP can lead rich, fulfilling lives.

Wrapping up

Understanding cerebral palsy symptoms and related conditions is crucial for providing timely and effective support. With early intervention, personalized treatments, and comprehensive care, individuals with cerebral palsy can lead fulfilling and enriched lives.

 If your child or loved one has cerebral palsy, don't wait to reach out. Contact Hamaspik today and explore how our expert care and compassionate support can help your family thrive.

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