Cerebral Palsy

The specific cause of cerebral palsy is often unknown. It occurs when there is abnormal development or damage to areas of the brain that control movement. These issues usually develop when the baby is still in the womb, but can happen at any time during birth or the first few years of life.

Many factors can increase the risk for CP including:

• Prematurity
• Bleeding in the brain
• Low birth weight
• Infections of the body or brain
• Substance abuse or trauma during pregnancy

Common symptoms of CP are:

• Weakness or stiffness in certain parts of the body
• Delayed developmental milestones such as rolling over, sitting, crawling, walking, or talking
• Uncontrolled shaking in arms and legs
• Difficulty with eating or drinking, and poor weight gain
• Frequent lung infections
• Difficulty with learning, focus, or behavior
• Problems with hearing or speaking
• Vision or eye problems (being “cross-eyed” or having a “lazy eye”)
• Seizures
• Curvature of the spine (called scoliosis)

As there is no specific test for CP, a diagnosis is made through medical history and a physical exam. A definitive diagnosis is often delayed until a child is at least 6 to 12 months, as babies develop and change so rapidly during this early time. Additional information is sometimes gathered via an MRI (magnetic resonance image) scan to capture brain images, or through genetic and metabolic testing.  

There is currently no cure for CP, but there are treatments to help minimize symptoms.

Physical, occupational, speech, and behavioral therapy are the most important treatments, as they encourage and/or support movement, mobility, motor skills, and speech.

Equipment such as leg braces, walkers, or wheelchairs can also greatly help with mobility.

Muscle tightness can be managed with medications or Botox®, a purified substance derived from bacteria that is injected directly into the affected muscle group. Botox can provide relief by temporarily relaxing the muscle and allowing it to stretch. Electrical stimulation can alleviate muscle tightness as well.

In some cases, surgery is a good option to help increase movement and positioning of joints in the arms, legs, hips or back.

• Cerebral Palsy Management

(Adapted from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; KidsHealth; and CerebralPalsy.org.)

Website Resources

• Cerebral Palsy Foundation
• Children's Hemiplegia & Stroke Association (CHASA)
• My Child Without Limits
• United Cerebral Palsy

Support Groups

• Candor
• Cerebral Palsy Families
• CPATH Texas
• Texas Parent to Parent
• United Cerebral Palsy