Signs and Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy

What are the Early Signs of Cerebral Palsy?

Early signs of cerebral palsy often manifest before the first year of life and include delays in the achievement of milestones such as sitting, crawling, or walking. Other indicators are poor muscle tone, whether stiff or floppy muscles; difficulty with coordination; strange postures; and persistent reflexes that usually fade out with age.

Early diagnosis and recognition are essential to timely intervention and better management of the condition.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy?

The signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy vary from patient to patient. Some patients with CP may have difficulty in balance, others may have difficulty in movement.

In some cases, cerebral palsy impacts the whole body and in other cases, it might be restricted to one side of the body.

Typically, signs and symptoms include but are not limited to problems with movement, balance, coordination, speech, swallowing, eating, and walking.

The signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy can be divided into movement and coordination, speech and eating problems, developmental delays or issues, and other problems. Let’s have a look at them.

Movement and Coordination

Signs and Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy related to movement and coordination are:

• Stiff muscles.
• Variations in muscle tone, such as being either too stiff or too floppy.
• Not able to balance the body.
• Jerky involuntary movements.
• Slow movements.
• Only reaching with one hand.
• Dragging a leg while crawling.
• Walking on toes.
• A crouched walk.
• A scissors-like walk with knees crossing.
• A wide gait or an asymmetrical walk.
• Difficulty with fine motor skills, such as buttoning clothes or picking up utensils.

Speech and Eating

Signs and Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy related to speech and eating disorders of cerebral palsy are:

• Delays in speech development.
• Difficulty speaking.
• Difficulty with sucking, chewing or eating.
• Excessive drooling or problems with swallowing.

Developmental Conditions

Signs and Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy related to developmental issues are:

• Delays in reaching motor skills milestones, such as sitting up or crawling.
• Learning difficulties.
• Intellectual disabilities.
• Delayed growth, resulting in a smaller size than would be expected.

Other Problems

Damage to the brain can contribute to other neurological problems, such as:

• Seizures (epilepsy).
• Difficulty in hearing.
• Problems with vision and abnormal eye movements.
• Abnormal touch or pain sensations.
• Bladder and bowel problems, including constipation and urine control.
• Mental health conditions, such as emotional disorders and behavioural problems.

When to see a Doctor for CP?

You need to contact a pediatrician and get a proper diagnosis if your child has any of the symptoms mentioned above.

Also, if the child has issues with swelling, eye muscle imbalance, poor coordination, and other developmental issues, you should immediately approach a healthcare provider.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):