Version July 2025
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What is cerebral palsy? —
This is a disorder that causes problems with movement and balance, often along with other problems like trouble with learning, speaking, or eating. It is a condition babies are born with or one that develops very early in life.
Some children with cerebral palsy might not have noticeable symptoms until they are toddlers or young children. Others might show symptoms when they are still babies. Babies with cerebral palsy are often slow to roll over, sit, crawl, or walk.
What are the symptoms of cerebral palsy? —
The symptoms can be mild or more serious. Many symptoms are caused by weakness or stiffness of parts of the body. These symptoms change as a baby gets older (table 1). People with cerebral palsy continue to have symptoms for life. But the disorder does not get worse with age.
Many children with cerebral palsy also have other problems, including:
●Problems with hearing and speaking
●Trouble seeing – Many children with cerebral palsy have 1 eye that turns in or out.
●Trouble with thinking and learning
●Seizures – These are waves of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The child might have jerking movements, get stiff, stop responding and stare for a few seconds, or pass out.
●Trouble drinking or eating – This can lead to other problems, including:
•Not gaining enough weight
•Choking
●Acid reflux – This is when acid that is normally in the stomach backs up into the esophagus. It can cause a burning feeling in the throat or chest, belly pain, and nausea or vomiting.
●Drooling
●Lung infections
●Curved spine (called "scoliosis")
●Dislocation of the hip joints
●Problems with bladder control
●Constipation (having too few bowel movements)
●Pain – Children with cerebral palsy often have pain. This can be related to issues like muscle stiffness, problems with the hip joints, or constipation.
Are there tests for cerebral palsy? —
Yes. Your child's doctor or nurse might be able to tell if your child has cerebral palsy by doing an exam and asking about their symptoms. But doctors can't always tell, because children develop at different rates during the first 2 years of life. They might refer you to a specialist to help find out if your child has cerebral palsy.
Possible tests include:
●MRI – This is an imaging test that takes pictures of the inside of the brain.
●Electroencephalogram ("EEG") – This measures electrical activity in the brain and records brain wave patterns. A doctor might do this test if your child has seizures.
●Blood tests – Different tests can check for infections, genetic conditions, or other problems.
How is cerebral palsy treated? —
Your child's doctor will refer you to an "early intervention" program. These programs have different types of experts. They will teach you how to help your child do everyday things they might have trouble with, like eating, speaking, walking, and learning.
Treatments include:
●Medicines – Your child's doctor might prescribe medicines to help treat symptoms such as stiff muscles, unusual body movements, or seizures.
●Physical and occupational therapy – This involves learning exercises, movements, and ways of doing everyday tasks to help make it easier to move.
●Equipment – These include devices such as leg braces, walkers, or a wheelchair to help your child get around.
●Nutrition – Some children need special diets to help them gain enough weight to be healthy. Some need to get some or all their food through a tube that goes directly into the stomach. This is called a "gastrostomy tube," or "G-tube."
●Surgery – For children with very severe symptoms, doctors sometimes do surgery to put the child's legs or arms into the correct position.
What will my child's life be like? —
It depends on how serious their symptoms are. Some children with mild symptoms work with therapists to learn exercises that can help with stiff muscles. Others with more serious symptoms might have trouble moving and need equipment or surgery. Special equipment and therapies can help your child move and learn as much as they can.
Children with mild forms of cerebral palsy often live as long as people who don't have the disorder. Children with more serious forms of the disease might not live as long.
