Cerebral palsy (CP) is the name given to a group of chronic disorders characterised by impaired body movement and a loss of motor tone (resulting in stiffness or floppiness, or a mixture of both). CP is really a descriptive term: "cerebral" refers to the head and "palsy" refers to anything wrong with the control of the muscles. Because of an injury to the brain, a person with CP is not able to use the muscles in a normal way.

Symptoms of CP may include shaking of limbs, loss of balance, inability to walk, seizures and delay in growth and development. The disorder may also be linked to learning disabilities and mental health problems. It is usually diagnosed early in life and is associated with an injury to the brain before, during or after the time of birth, or in very early years.

CP is not progressive, although the muscles have a tendency to alter with time, needing ongoing therapy, equipment and surgery.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

In most cases of CP, the cause of the brain injury is unknown. Although it can be caused by an infection in the first month of life or by an injury in early childhood, most cases are congenital, or present at birth. Through research, scientists have pinpointed some specific events that can damage motor centres in the developing brain, and increase the risk of CP. For example, infections that can affect the mother during pregnancy such as rubella, cytomegalovirus, or toxoplasmosis may cause brain damage to the foetus in the womb.

Research has also uncovered certain risk factors that increase the chances that a child will later be diagnosed with CP. One risk factor is low birth weight or premature birth; the risk of CP is higher among babies who weigh less than 2,500g (5lbs. 7.5oz.) at birth and among babies who are born less than 37 weeks into pregnancy. Another risk factor is the existence of a maternal disorder such as hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), learning disabilities or seizures; mothers with these conditions are slightly more likely to have a child with CP than those without such conditions.

Research supports the idea that CP is more often a result of a congenital abnormality than to injury sustained at birth.

Different types of cerebral palsy

CP may be classified by the type of movement problem (such as spastic or athetoid CP) or by the body parts involved (hemiplegia, diplegia, and quadriplegia).

Spasticity refers to the inability of a muscle to relax, while athetosis refers to the inability to control the muscle.

Hemiplegia is CP that involves one arm and one leg on the same side of the body, whereas diplegia primarily affects both legs.

Quadriplegia refers to a pattern involving all the extremities as well as trunk and neck muscles.

Another classification term is ataxia, which refers to balance and co-ordination problems.

Associated problems

Potentially any function of the body can be affected by an injury to the brain.

Learning Problems

About one quarter to one half of children with CP will have some type of learning problem.

Seizures (fits, epilepsy)

About half of all children with CP have seizures. These can usually be controlled by medication.

Talking, eating and toileting

CP can make it difficult to talk clearly and to bite, chew, swallow, digest and eliminate food normally.

Sensory issues

Sight, hearing etc can also be affected.

Treatment and other approaches

There are a number of therapies to help children with CP improve their

motor skills. Physical therapy aims to improve muscle use and co-ordination. Speech and Language therapy works on communication, feeding and dribbling. Sometimes it may involve sign language or using a communication aid like an alphabet board or a computer. Occupational therapy aims to help children with CP to find the best ways to manage everyday activities. An occupational therapist (OT) may help find specialist equipment to be more mobile or make everyday jobs easier.

Medical treatments

Botox and Baclofen are two drugs used currently to reduce spasticity in muscles. Electrical stimulation is also used to improve movement.

Educational methods and I.T.

Learning can be helped by teaching techniques and computer software.

For a more complete list of approaches, please visit Cerebra’s website, or telephone the helpline.

Cerebral palsy organisations

Scope (England and Wales)
Disability charity with a focus on people with cerebral palsy (any age). Educational services including nursery-age. Conductive education.

Helpline: 0808 800 3333

Advice Service Capability Scotland (ASCS)
Advice and information service in Scotland on disability, including cerebral palsy (any age).

Tel: 0131 313 5510

The Cedar Foundation (Northern Ireland)
Provides information and support to parents of children with CP.

Tel: 028 9066 6188