What Are the Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy?

There are many symptoms of cerebral palsy, but they all stem from the same reason: damage to the brain. Doctors look for suspicious behavior in how a child moves, manipulates objects, and communicates. If they see symptoms, they can confirm cerebral palsy with a brain scan.

These symptoms can appear quickly after birth or take years to manifest. Generally, symptoms are more apparent in children who are more severely affected. In most cases, parents or doctors recognize something is wrong before a baby turns two.

If your baby suffers from cerebral palsy, it is worth your time to speak with a cerebral palsy lawyer in Phoenix to see if your baby may have been harmed by malpractice. Read the rest of this page to learn the symptoms, have a doctor confirm the diagnosis, and then call us for legal advice.

Immediate Warning Signs of Cerebral Palsy

Some signs of cerebral palsy that demand immediate medical attention include:

• The child may feel ‘floppy’ when you pick them up
  
• The child may have muscle spasms or feel stiff
  
• The child may have poor posture, slow reflexes, or little muscle control
  
• The child may be unable to hold up their head if they are lying on their stomach or seated in a high-chair
  
• The child has not hit their developmental milestones, such as walking by 18 months or speaking sentences by 24 months
  
• The child is not feeding or swallowing well
  
• The child favors one side of their body
  
• The child is experiencing delays in fine motor skills, such as putting food in their mouth or picking things up
  
• The child has difficulties with their vision, hearing, or speech
  
• The child suffers from seizures.

While not all of these are medical emergencies, many are, and many will cause additional complications for your child’s development if they are not treated as soon as possible. The cause of cerebral palsy is damage to the brain, and it must be addressed quickly.

Cerebral Palsy Symptoms Affect All Children Differently

There isn’t a single symptom of cerebral palsy that’s a hallmark of the condition. The disorder can appear in many different ways and in many different severities. The differences come from which regions of the brain are damaged and how much damage they received.

Cerebral palsy can affect movement in the whole body, one side of the body, just the legs, or only one limb. Some children have intellectual disabilities, while others have above-average intelligence. Some have several co-occurring conditions, while others have none. 

Depending on the areas of your child’s brain that suffered an injury, your child may suffer:

• Loss of vision
  
• Loss of hearing
  
• Intellectual disabilities
  
• Epilepsy
  
• Mouth difficulties (eating, chewing, etc.)
• Speech deficits
  
• Motor difficulties
  
• Behavioral difficulties

Later Complications That Can Arise

Cerebral palsy doesn’t get worse with age, but there are some complications that can happen over time as your child grows. These include:

• Muscle tightening and shortening, known as contracture
  
• Joint deformities or dislocations
  
• Malnutrition related to difficulty eating or swallowing
  
• Depression and other mental health concerns
  
• Breathing disorders, heart disease, or lung disease
  
• Degenerative osteoarthritis
  
• Low bone density, known as osteopenia

With medication, therapy, and other efforts, families of children with cerebral palsy may be able to prevent, manage, or halt many of these complications. This is why getting a diagnosis and the proper treatment is so important. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy is often the first step in this process. 

Why Is Early Diagnosis So Important?

Getting a cerebral palsy diagnosis as early as possible allows the child to qualify for early intervention programs and begin therapy to address muscle strength, motor control, developmental concerns, speech and language, and other problems.

Early intervention will give your child the best chance possible at minimizing the effects of their cerebral palsy. There is no cure for the condition, but it can often be managed if caught in time. Be sure to take your child to your pediatrician regularly and tell them of anything unusual you notice.

Common Vision Impairments in Children With Cerebral Palsy

According to a study published in BMC Ophthalmology, between 50 and 90 percent of children with cerebral palsy also have some type of visual impairment or abnormality. Visual differences and vision loss can occur with any type of cerebral palsy and vary widely in severity. 

Ocular Disorders

Ocular (problem with the eye) disorders that are commonly seen in children with cerebral palsy include:

• Refractive errors including myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness)
  
• Strabismus
• Some types of minor ocular abnormalities

Oculomotor Abnormalities

Some individuals with cerebral palsy may have significant issues controlling eye movement or focusing because of unwanted eye movements. In the past, testing may have determined these children had profound vision impairments and were essentially “blind” when, in fact, there was a motor control problem with their eyes instead of a problem with the eye itself.

Visuoperceptual Difficulties

In some cases, it is not the eye causing problems but a problem related to how the brain receives and translates visual images. Visuoperceptual difficulties include:

• Problems with visual object recognition
  
• Issues with visuospatial skills
  
• Weak visual memory
  

A child’s sight is important when helping them build muscle strength and motor skills, and helping them to learn to communicate if speech is not possible. Children who already require occupational therapy to master self-care skills may struggle even more if they have unaddressed vision impairments.

In many cases, there are treatments available to address vision impairments. This may include surgery, glasses, other medical treatments to address physical issues and early intervention and therapy to improve cerebral visual impairments.

More Than One-Third of Children With Cerebral Palsy Have Some Degree of Hearing Loss

Many children with cerebral palsy also suffer a hearing impairment. Cerebral palsy hearing impairments seem to be more common in children who also have a visual impairment related to their condition. 

Early diagnosis of hearing-related cerebral palsy symptoms allows for early intervention program placement, speech therapy, and early treatment with hearing aids or cochlear implants, if appropriate.

Treating hearing impairments or integrating the child into an environment designed for the hearing impaired may help them excel in academics, participate in conversations, be a part of a social peer group, and increase their self-esteem.

Speech Concerns in Children With Cerebral Palsy-Related Hearing Impairments

The brain injury that causes cerebral palsy can affect the muscles necessary for swallowing, speaking, and even eating. Children with cerebral palsy often require speech therapy, and many still never gain the ability to speak verbally.  

Depending on how the condition affects the child’s mouth and throat, their speech may be:

• Slow and slurred
  
• Hyponasal, like they have a stopped-up nose
  
• Distorted
  
• Absent entirely
  

Making sure the child does not have profound hearing loss and requires treatment is a key part of helping them overcome their speech challenges. If the child cannot speak because of their condition, they may also need to use a tablet-based or computer-based voice synthesizing device to communicate. 

Intellectual Disability Symptoms From Cerebral Palsy

Intellectual disabilities from cerebral palsy are characterized by lower-than-average intellectual function and learning disabilities. A child diagnosed as having intellectual disabilities from cerebral palsy may experience decreased cognitive function and adaptive behavior that limits their ability to function. 

Symptoms of cerebral palsy for intellectual disability can take a variety of forms. Some symptoms include developmental delays and failure to reach age-appropriate developmental milestones. Others may not fully appear until your child begins going to school.

If your child is diagnosed with an intellectual disability, speak with our babies and children intellectual disabilities lawyers for legal advice.

How Common Is Epilepsy Among People With Cerebral Palsy?

Certain types of cerebral palsy and epilepsy occur because of damage to the same or nearby areas of the brain. For this reason, the two disorders may both occur in children diagnosed with cerebral palsy. 

In general, the prevalence of epilepsy is between 3 and 6 per 1000 children. However, it is much more common in children with cerebral palsy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 41 percent of children with cerebral palsy also had epilepsy. 

If the child also has a learning disability related to their cerebral palsy, the percentage with epilepsy increases even further, to more than 70 percent, according to a study in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology.

Why Epilepsy Must Be Treated to Prevent Worsening Symptoms

While cerebral palsy is not a progressive disease, uncontrolled epileptic seizures can contribute to additional cognitive deficits. The most common type of treatment for children with epilepsy is anticonvulsant medications, regardless of whether they also have cerebral palsy.

The shaking caused by epileptic seizures can cause new damage to the brain that could make your child’s cerebral palsy symptoms even worse. Most children and adults who have a dual diagnosis of both cerebral palsy and epilepsy had seizures within the first year of their life.

It may take some time to find the right medication or combination of medications to reduce the frequency of seizures and eliminate them entirely. If your doctor has diagnosed your child with cerebral palsy, ask for an epilepsy screening as well.

Difficulties With the Mouth

It is not uncommon for babies to experience problems with eating or with food, including difficulties with sucking, eating, or swallowing. 

A study published in Paediatrics & Child Health reports that 35 percent of infants suffer from some type of feeding problem—occurring in 25 percent of normally developing children and in 35 percent of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Symptoms of cerebral palsy related to the mouth include:

• Fussing or crying during feeding
  
• Difficulty chewing
  
• Breastfeeding problems
  
• Eating takes a long time
  
• Stiffening or arching of back when feeding
  
• Falling asleep during feeding
  
• Refusing food or drink
  
• Gagging or coughing during feeding
  
• Excessive drooling
  
• Hoarse or breathy voice while feeding or after
  
• Throws up or spits up frequently
  
• Does not gain weight
  

If left unaddressed, feeding problems can lead to nutritional, developmental, and psychological problems, making early detection and treatment important. However, many of these symptoms may also be signs of other problems, or just a baby being fussy that day. Speak with a doctor if you’re unsure.

Cerebral Palsy Can Cause Undernutrition and Malnutrition

Babies and children who experience cerebral palsy nutritional issues can suffer from problems with growth, reduced cerebral functioning, immune system weakening, and other serious health concerns.

Your child’s care team should assess their growth and ensure they are getting adequate nutrition regularly as a part of monitoring their cerebral palsy. This may be as frequent as every four to 12 weeks for infants. Older children require less frequent monitoring, but it depends on their nutritional issues and related concerns.

Children who need extra calories or have serious difficulties eating and swallowing may require additional help. This could include oral nutritional supplements, often high-calorie shakes with vitamins, or a feeding tube (enteral nutrition). There are several types of enteral nutrition available, including nasogastric, gastrostomy, and post-pyloric feeding.

Speech Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy can affect the muscles and motor function of the arms and legs, but it can also affect the mouth, tongue, pharynx, and other related body parts. Cerebral palsy speech impairments are most common in children with spastic types of cerebral palsy, the most common type.

Some common speech and language issues in children with cerebral palsy include:

• The absence of verbal speech (aphasia)
  
• Problems pronouncing words because of issues with motor control (dyspraxia)
  
• Problems related to speech patterns and timing (dysprosody)
  
• Issues related to increased or unpredictable muscle tone in the face and mouth (dysarthria)
  
• Difficulty swallowing and related concerns (dysphagia)
  
• Articulation disorders, making it difficult to understand their speech
  
• Resonance disorders stemming from cerebral palsy affecting the vocal tract
  
• Problems comprehending language, usually linked to their brain injury or intellectual disability
  

Dysphagia is one of the most common causes of speech problems in children with cerebral palsy, but it can also affect babies and toddlers because of their inability to eat normally or swallow. 

When a newborn or baby presents with what appears to be difficulty swallowing, this could be a sign they have cerebral palsy or another birth injury. They require a swallow study and follow-up care to ensure they can feed and get adequate nutrition. Our childhood dysarthria lawyers can see if compensation is possible to pay for this care.

Speech Therapy Can Help Children With Speech Impairments

A speech pathologist can design therapy exercises and activities that will assess and treat the child’s speech, language, and swallowing problems. Depending on the child’s needs, this may address specific concerns, including:

• Problems swallowing
  
• Chewing and eating problems
  
• Excessive drooling
  
• Muscle coordination and strength necessary for speech
  
• Word formation and pronunciation
  
• Speaking as clearly as possible
  
• Language and vocabulary development
  
• Engaging in conversations
  

In some cases, children with cerebral palsy speech impairments will likely remain non-verbal. Speech therapy can help these children express themselves in other ways. This greatly improves the quality of life for these children. 

Some of the tools and technology that may be available to these children and their speech therapists include:

• Sign language and other gestures
  
• Picture boards and related concepts
  
• Computer- or tablet-based aids
  
• Voice synthesizers
  

Speech therapy will not only teach these children to use these tools or devices, but it will also encourage interaction with others and help the child develop social skills and self-esteem. It can also help with further diagnosis because your child will be able to communicate their problems.

What Kind of Mobility Problems do Children With Cerebral Palsy Face?

Cerebral palsy affects muscle control, strength, and movement, but affects every person differently. This means two children with the same diagnosis can be affected in dramatically different ways. 

One of the mobility problems children with cerebral palsy face could include a struggle with balance or gait. However, one child may be able to walk unsupported, while another may not be able to walk at all. Trouble with balancing and walking is a key symptom in many cerebral palsy cases.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 50 and 60 percent of children with cerebral palsy can walk on their own. About 10 percent walk with a hand-held mobility device.

Muscle-Related Cerebral Palsy Symptoms

Muscle-related symptoms can include:

• Stiff muscles
  
• Floppy muscles
  
• A rag doll-like appearance
  
• Exaggerated muscle reflexes
  
• Lack of muscle coordination
  
• Tremors
  
• Involuntary muscle movements
  
• Difficulty crawling or walking
  
• Difficulty swallowing, sucking, or eating
  
• Delayed fine motor skills

Additional Complications Caused by Mobility Problems and Cerebral Palsy

Hip and spine abnormalities are common, including scoliosis and hip displacement, due to the mobility problems caused by cerebral palsy. This can make sitting, standing, and walking both painful and difficult. In many cases, treatment can help these children gain some mobility. 

Even limited mobility can help as children grow because the ability to stand and transfer to a wheelchair on their own eliminates the need for a parent to lift an older child, teenager, or adult or the expense of a mechanical lift.

Some common mobility aids used by children with cerebral palsy include:

• Posterior walkers
  
• Gait trainers
  
• Manual and motorized wheelchairs
  

Often, doctors prescribe orthotics and other braces to offer additional support, and children use these in conjunction with mobility aids.

Behavioral Disorders in Children With Cerebral Palsy

A behavioral disorder is defined as frequent, persistent, and problematic behavior that is not socially acceptable and interferes with the activities of daily life. Birth injuries can cause these cognitive developmental disabilities.

This can include children who have: 

• Difficulty socializing with their peers
  
• Attention problems
  
• Hyperactivity
  
• Aggression
  
• Emotional problems
  
• Withdrawal
  
• Stubbornness
  
• Anti-social behavior

If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and their behavior has become problematic, there are some things you can do to improve their functioning, including:

• Making the home environment as stress-free as possible.
  
• Consulting with professionals who will evaluate, diagnose, and develop a treatment plan.
  
• If your child has started school, consult with their teacher, school psychologist, or social worker. If not, consult with their pediatrician.
  
• Having your child evaluated by behavioral health experts so they can offer you appropriate referrals to resources to help you and your family.
  

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can also be a useful tool when treating behavioral disabilities in children with cerebral palsy. See if our cognitive development disability lawyers can help you get access to this care for your child.

Developmental Milestones to Watch For

One reason parents may suspect cerebral palsy is if their child misses developmental milestones. While there are many reasons a child might have a delay reaching a milestone, they’re a sign something may be wrong.  

Some of the signs your child’s doctor may ask you about or evaluate during an appointment may include:

Physical Milestones in Babies Less Than Six Months Old

If your child is less than six months old, watch for:

• Struggling with head control beyond the age when most babies do
  
• Feeling too stiff or floppy when held
  
• Overextending the back and neck when held
  
• Legs that stiffen and cross at the knees when you pick them up

Physical Milestones in Babies Between 6-10 Months Old

If your child is in this age range, beware if your child:

• Cannot roll over from back to stomach or stomach to back
  
• Cannot clap or bring hands together
  
• Struggles to put hands in mouth
  
• Uses only one hand and keeps the other in a fist

Physical Milestones in Babies Over Ten Months Old

Signs in older children to watch for include:

• Does not crawl
  
• Crawls using only one hand and one leg, dragging the other
  
• Scoots sitting up or on knees instead of crawling
  

Cognitive Milestones

Here are milestones to look for that could show cognitive damage:

• By two months, babies should be able to react to faces and follow movements with their eyes.
  
• By four months, they should be able to respond to affection and recognize faces they know.
  
• By 18 months, most children will know the names of some items and follow verbal commands.

Emotional Milestones

Emotional expression delays could also be a warning sign:

• By two months, a child should be able to smile.
  
• By four months, they should generally be able to play with people.
  
• By six months, should recognize familiar people
  
• By nine months, they will typically know what their favorite toys are.
  
• By one year, they can get upset if a parent is not around and will often try to get attention.
  
• By 18 months, they usually begin throwing tantrums, showing affection, and playing pretend with their toys.

Communication Milestones

Children should communicate in these ways:

• By two months, a child can usually gurgle and make sounds.
  
• By six months, they should respond to their name.
  
• By nine months, they should understand the words “yes” and “no” and make sounds that imitate words such as “mama” and “dada.”
  
• By a year, babies are imitating words that they hear.
  
• By 18 months, children can usually say several words.

If you have concerns about your child, take notes or video of the behavior to share with the doctor or a child skipping developmental milestones lawyer. Having a video of an unusual crawl or hand position, for example, can help them understand your concern better.

How Will the Doctor Screen My Baby for Cerebral Palsy?

If your doctor has a reason to believe your child may have cerebral palsy based on their early assessments, they will likely conduct a developmental screening or refer them to a specialist for screening. 

If this screening confirms the doctor’s suspicions, they will most likely refer your child for medical evaluations of their developmental delays and impairments. These medical evaluations may include:

• Medical imaging to document brain injury
  
• Tests to better understand your child’s current status and level of development
  
• Tests to rule out other conditions
  
• Vision and hearing screenings
  
• Tests for commonly co-occurring conditions
  

The symptoms of cerebral palsy you may notice are not enough to diagnose the condition. These screenings give doctors the data they need to officially diagnose your child with the condition and to start early intervention services.

How Often Should My Baby Be Tested?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children get screened for developmental delays at nine months, 18 months, and 24 to 30 months. However, if you notice any of the symptoms of cerebral palsy we mentioned earlier, you should contact a doctor immediately.

If your child is diagnosed with a birth injury, you may wish to read our birth injury caregiver guide. It contains tips that can help you in the future.

Cerebral Palsy Symptoms and Medical Malpractice

In some cases, a cerebral palsy diagnosis or a missed diagnosis can support a medical malpractice case. Doctors have a responsibility to prevent this type of birth injury when possible, like by preventing birth asphyxia which can cause cerebral palsy.

A birth injury lawyer can review your case to determine if you are eligible to file a claim. If your lawyer uncovers proof that your child’s doctor or another medical care professional or facility acted negligently and this caused your child additional pain and suffering, they can help you build a case and take action on your behalf.

To learn more, you should discuss your case with a cerebral palsy birth injury attorney who handles this type of case in your state. Birth Injury Lawyers Group can connect you with one. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.