Cerebral Palsy Symptoms

Cerebral palsy occurs because damage to the brain has impaired control of movement and motor function. The brain damage is the result of an infection, a lack of blood, oxygen, or other nutrients, or brain cells fail to grow or grow abnormally. A child can experience this birth injury prior to birth, during birth, or shortly after birth. Birth injuries can result for no apparent reason, but in some instances a birth injury may be the result of a medical mistake.

There are different types of cerebral palsy that are characterized by different symptoms. These cerebral palsy symptoms are often overlooked at birth, but parents are usually able to notice the first signs of cerebral palsy as their baby begins to develop. Parents may notice the first signs of cerebral palsy when the baby does not respond to certain noises or is unable to follow things with their eyes. The baby may also appear to show a lack of facial expressions. These initial cerebral palsy signs are noticeable around three months of age.

Around five to six months of age the baby is still unable to lift their head or roll over and will not eat food willingly as most babies that age will. The cerebral palsy affected baby will continue to show signs common to the condition, including being unable to sit without support or move around in a natural crawling motion since their body movement is affected. Babies that have a severe form of cerebral palsy may have sings of the condition right from birth or quickly thereafter.

Most people affected by cerebral palsy have problems with the smaller muscles in their arms or legs due to a nervous system injury. The shortened muscles do not allow the cerebral palsy affected person to move their muscles, which affects their growth because of inactivity. Drooling is a common symptom of cerebral palsy because poor facial and throat muscle control is common. The constant drooling often irritates the skin, especially the area around the mouth and chin.

Cerebral palsy symptoms will vary with each person and the type of cerebral palsy they have, but it is very common for people to have the symptoms of more than one form of cerebral palsy. The most common combination of cerebral palsy symptoms is spasticity and athetoid movements, but other combinations are also possible and can occur.