Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects a child’s movement, muscle tone and posture. It is caused by brain damage that occurs before or during birth or the first few weeks following birth.
If your child develops cerebral palsy, it can have a potentially long-term impact on their health and well-being, often leading to lifelong disability. As such, it is vital to ensure that cerebral palsy is diagnosed as soon as possible, to ensure that your child receives the treatment they need.
Recognising the early signs of cerebral palsy can be challenging, especially for first-time parents. However, awareness of the key symptoms can lead to early diagnosis, providing you and your child with the best chance of managing the condition effectively and improving their overall quality of life.
Understanding cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. It is the most common motor disability in childhood, with around 2-2.5 out of every 1,000 babies being diagnosed with some form of cerebral palsy – meaning that 30,000 children live with cerebral palsy in the UK.
Cerebral palsy primarily affects body movement and muscle coordination. However, it can also involve cognitive impairments, sensory disturbances, perceptual issues, communication problems and behavioural difficulties. The severity of these symptoms varies widely from person to person.
The damage that leads to cerebral palsy can result from several factors, or a combination of factors that interfere with normal brain development. These can include:
- Bleeding in the baby’s brain, or a lack of blood and oxygen supply to the brain
- Infections affecting the mother or baby
- Mismanagement of newborn jaundice
- A serious head injury sustained during infancy
- Failure to treat low blood sugars (hypoglycaemia) shortly after birth
The long-term impacts of cerebral palsy can vary significantly depending on the individual and the severity of their condition, and can significantly impact quality of life. People with cerebral palsy may face challenges such as difficulties walking or standing, problems with communication and feeding themselves, and learning difficulties.
Because of this, early intervention and ongoing therapy are vital to ensure that children with cerebral palsy can achieve the best possible outcomes.
Spotting the signs of cerebral palsy
The signs of cerebral palsy are usually noticeable during the first few years of a child’s life. Parents should be aware of the following early indicators:
- Motor delays – babies with cerebral palsy often show signs of motor delays, such as not rolling over by six months, or not starting to crawl by nine to 10 months. They may also have difficulty with motor skills, like grasping toys.
- Abnormal muscle tone – babies with cerebral palsy may have muscle tone that is either too stiff or too floppy. They may overextend their back and neck, and their body may feel stiff or floppy when picked up.
- Poor coordination and control – babies with cerebral palsy may move in unusual ways or favour one side of their body. They may crawl in a lopsided manner, dragging one hand or leg behind them.
- Difficulty feeding – this includes difficulties sucking, swallowing and eating, which can lead to poor growth or malnutrition.
- Developmental delays – babies with cerebral palsy may take longer to reach developmental milestones such as sitting up, smiling, speaking and walking.
The symptoms of cerebral palsy can present differently depending on the child’s age, so parents should be looking for different signs as their baby grows:
For infants younger than six months:
- Your baby might feel either too stiff or too floppy when you hold them
- When you lift your baby while they’re lying on their back, their head might lag or fall backwards
- Your baby overextends their back or neck, as if pushing away from you when held
- When you pick your baby up, their legs might stiffen and cross over each other
For infants aged between six and 10 months:
- Your baby doesn’t roll over in either direction when lying down
- Your baby might struggle to bring their hands together or to their mouth
- Your baby reaches out with one hand while the other remains clenched into a fist
For infants older than 10 months:
- Your baby might crawl in an uneven manner, dragging one hand or leg behind them
- Instead of crawling on all fours, your baby might move around by hopping on their knees, or pulling themselves forward with their hands while sitting
It is also important to remember that there are several different forms of cerebral palsy, all of which have slightly different definitions and symptoms:
- Spastic cerebral palsy – the most common type, characterised by stiff and jerky movements due to muscle stiffness and joint contracture
- Dyskinetic cerebral palsy – involves uncontrolled, slow, writhing movements, affecting the hands, arms, feet and legs. It can also affect the face and tongue, causing grimacing and drooling
- Ataxic cerebral palsy – this type affects balance and coordination, leading to problems with movements that require precision, like writing
- Mixed cerebral palsy – this combines the symptoms of several forms of cerebral palsy, most commonly dyskinetic and spastic cerebral palsy
When to seek medical attention
If you notice any of the signs or symptoms of cerebral palsy in your baby, it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. While these symptoms don’t definitively prove that your child has cerebral palsy, they do warrant a thorough evaluation. Early diagnosis and intervention can help improve outcomes and manage symptoms effectively.
Once a diagnosis of cerebral palsy is confirmed, a team of healthcare professionals will work together to develop a treatment plan tailored to your child’s specific needs. Potential treatment options include:
- Physiotherapy to improve strength, flexibility, mobility and coordination
- Occupational therapy to help develop the skills needed for daily activities such as dressing, eating and schoolwork; occupational therapists may also suggest modifications to the home or school environment to make these activities easier
- Speech therapy to aid with difficulties speaking or swallowing
- Medications to manage symptoms of cerebral palsy, such as muscle relaxants to reduce spasticity and pain relievers to manage discomfort
- Surgery to improve mobility or reduce pain
The sooner treatment begins, the better the potential outcome for the child, which is why it is always best to seek medical attention as soon as possible if you suspect they may have cerebral palsy.
Can cerebral palsy be caused by medical negligence?
Cerebral palsy is typically caused by damage to the brain that occurs before, during or shortly after birth. While many cases of cerebral palsy are due to factors that cannot be controlled, such as genetic mutations or infections during pregnancy, there are instances where cerebral palsy can be the result of medical negligence.
Medical negligence refers to a situation where a healthcare professional fails to provide the standard of care that would be expected in a given situation, and this failure results in harm to the patient. In the context of cerebral palsy, this could occur in several ways:
- Failure to monitor the health of the mother and baby throughout pregnancy
- Mistakes or delays in responding to complications during labour and delivery, leading to the baby being starved of oxygen or sustaining a head injury
- Failure to diagnose and treat conditions like jaundice leading to kernicterus, infections or low blood sugars (neonatal hypoglycaemia) just after the baby has been born, leading to brain damage and cerebral palsy
If you suspect that your child’s cerebral palsy may have been caused by medical negligence, it is important to seek legal advice. A lawyer specialising in medical negligence can help you understand your rights, guide you through the process of making a claim, and work to secure the compensation your child deserves.
Cerebral palsy will always pose significant challenges for affected families, but by getting educated about the condition and ensuring you know what to do if your child is affected, you will be giving them the best chance of an independent life.
Disclosure: collaborative post
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