Birth Injury - Cerebral Palsy FAQ

What is cerebral palsy?
It is a condition – not a disease – developed before, during or, occasionally, after birth, affecting motor skills (movement and coordination). Cerebral palsy is a static disorder of the brain, not a progressive disorder. The physical impairment is due to brain damage in the baby, which is frequently caused by insufficient oxygen flow to the brain. The reasons for a period of disrupted oxygen flow can vary widely; for example, there may have been a pregnancy complication having to do with the umbilical cord or placenta, or there may have been a physical trauma to the cranium during delivery. Any number of factors can cause the brain damage that results in cerebral palsy. And while the disability is sometimes not preventable, in many cases it is.

What signs might indicate that my child could have this disorder?
Different types of symptoms are present in different types of cerebral palsy but general signs can include:

• Poor muscle control

• Muscle tightness

• Unusually loose posture

• Involuntary movement

• Spasms or twitching

What are the different types of cerebral palsy?
Cerebral palsy is classified either by the type of movement problem (spastic, athetoid, or hypotonic) or by the body parts involved (leg, arm or all limbs) or both. Motor ability can vary greatly from one child to another.

Cerebral palsy classified by type of movement:

• Spastic – characterized by stiff or awkward movements

• Ataxic – characterized by extremely poor depth perception and/or balance

• Athetoid – characterized by no muscle control

• Hypotonic – characterized as “floppy”

Cerebral palsy classified by involved body parts:

• Hemiplegia – one arm or one leg on the same side of the body

• Diplegia – predominantly both legs but arms can also be involved

• Quadriplegia – all four extremities

The word for the dominant type of movement or muscle coordination problem is often combined with the word for the component that is most troublesome for the child. For example, a child with mostly spastic muscle problems mainly affecting his legs is characterized as having spastic diplegia.

When can it be diagnosed?
Warning signs relating to poor movement, balance, or posture can often be noticed in a child as early as three or four months of age. There is a widespread movement among parents for early intervention, because starting physical therapy at the very beginning (within the first year) can ease the child's adjustment as he or she develops. The earlier cerebral palsy is identified and diagnosed, the better.

For more information please visit United Cerebral Palsy, an information and advocacy resource, at www.ucp.org.

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