|
Cerebral Palsy Symptoms and Types
Cerebral palsy syndromes are grouped into four main categories: spastic, athetoid, ataxic,
and mixed forms. Each type of cerebral
palsy is characterized by different symptoms:
Spastic Cerebral Palsy - occurs
in about 70% of cases. The spasticity is due to upper motor neuron involvement
and may mildly or severely affect motor function. The syndrome may produce
hemiplegia, paraplegia, quadriplegia,
or diplegia.
Affected limbs usually are underdeveloped and show increased deep tendon
reflexes, weakness, and a tendency toward contractures. A scissors gait and toe
walking are characteristic. In mildly affected children, impairment may occur
only during certain activities (eg, running). With quadriplegia, an associated
impairment of oral, lingual, and palatal movement, with consequent
dysarthria, is common.
Athetoid Cerebral Palsy - occurs in about 20% of cases. Slow, writhing,
involuntary movements may affect the extremities (athetoid) or the proximal
parts of the limbs and the trunk (dystonia);
abrupt, jerky, distal movements (choreiform)
also may occur. The movements increase with emotional tension and disappear
during sleep.
Dysarthria occurs and is
often severe.
Ataxic Cerebral Palsy - occurs in about 10% of cases. Weakness,
incoordination, and intention tremor produce unsteadiness, a wide-based gait,
and difficulty with rapid or fine movements.
Mixed CP - is not uncommon, and is a combination of the above types but
is most often a mixture of spasticity and athetoid movements, with tight muscle
tone and involuntary reflex.
Symptoms of cerebral palsy may be evident immediately after birth, or may take
months or years (1,200 - 1,500 preschool children are diagnosed each year), to
become noticeable. Parents may notice that their child is slow to reach
developmental milestones or displays abnormal behavior.
- At 3 months there may be a lack
of facial expressions, the baby may not respond to some sounds, or is unable to
follow movement with their eyes.
- The child may not be able to bring
their hands together at 4 months.
- A child with cerebral palsy may not
display the coordination to lift their head, or rollover at 6 months.
- At 8 months the baby may not be
able to sit up by themselves, or without support. There may be a head lag when
the child is placed in a sitting position.
- By 12 months the child may not
be able to crawl.
- Drooling is a common problem because of
the lack of facial and muscle control.
- Muscle tremor or
spasticity may be evident, with a
tendency of infants to tuck their arms in toward their sides, scissors movements
of the legs, or other abnormal movements.
- Feeding may be a continuous effort and
problematic.
- Excessive stiffness when dressing,
changing diapers, or bathing.
It is important to realize that the
presence of any of these symptoms does not necessarily indicate your child has
cerebral palsy. Children develop on different timeframes, and symptoms are often
outgrown. Only your doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and provide you with
the information you need to care for your child.
< More information on Symptoms
< Back to Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis
|
