What is cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a condition that affects your muscles and body movements.

Cerebral palsy can affect your:

• movement
• coordination
• muscle tone
• posture (the way you stand)

Sometimes cerebral palsy can affect your whole body. Other times only one part of the body is affected.

Cerebral palsy occurs in children and lasts for their lifetime. But it does not get worse over time.

What are the types of cerebral palsy?

There are 4 main types of movement problems in cerebral palsy. If you have cerebral palsy, you may have one or more of these.

Spasticity is the most common problem in cerebral palsy. Spasticity is when muscles feel stiff, making movements difficult or awkward. Your muscles may also be weak. It may affect:

• all the muscles on one side of your body
• just your arms
• just your legs
• every muscle in your body

Dyskinesia is when your muscles move without you controlling them. This is known as involuntary movement. It usually affects the whole body.

Ataxia is when your movements are hard to coordinate. They may seem jerky. It can cause unsteady walking and difficulty with speech.

Some people have a mix of movement problems.

What are the symptoms of cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy causes a range of symptoms. Your symptoms may depend on the type of cerebral palsy you have and which muscles are affected.

Common symptoms may include:

• being stiff or floppy
• having reflexes or jerking movements that are bigger or stronger than expected
• muscle weakness
• body movements that you cannot control
• problems with balance and coordination
• problems with swallowing, sucking or eating

These symptoms can be mild or severe.

People with cerebral palsy may also have:

• delayed growth
• spinal problems
• trouble with seeing, hearing and speaking

How do I know if my child has cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy symptoms usually appear in a child's first 2 years of life. Babies and children with cerebral palsy may not meet some development milestones.

You should see your doctor if your baby is:

• unable to hold up their own head after 4 months of age
• not crawling by 9 months
• not walking by 18 months
• not able to sit up by 9 months
• not speaking simple sentences by 2 years of age

What causes cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy occurs when there's damage to the brain or a problem with brain development. This usually affects the part of the brain called the motor cortex. The damage can happen:

• when you are pregnant
• during or after birth
• during your baby's early life

Some babies have a higher risk of developing cerebral palsy. They are babies who:

• are born early or with a low birth weight
• have a birth difference
• had a lack of oxygen during pregnancy or birth
• had severe jaundice after birth
• had a serious infection during pregnancy or as a baby

Sometimes, cerebral palsy can occur after an accident. This might happen because of a brain injury in early childhood, such as from:

• a near-drowning
• a head injury
• a vehicle accident

There are also some genetic conditions that are linked to cerebral palsy.

Sometimes, there is no obvious cause of cerebral palsy.

When should I see my doctor?

If you think your child has symptoms of cerebral palsy, talk to your early childhood nurse or doctor.

For more information on signs that your child may have cerebral palsy, visit the Cerebral Palsy Alliance website.

How is cerebral palsy diagnosed?

Your doctor will ask about your child's symptoms and do an examination. They will want to know about your child's general health, including information about your pregnancy and birth.

Your doctor may recommend tests, such as:

• blood tests
• an ultrasound scan
• a CT scan
• an MRI scan

Your doctor may refer you to a paediatrician, a specialist doctor for children.

It can take time to find out if your baby has cerebral palsy. You might have several visits to doctors and tests done. Although this can be very frustrating, it's important to get the diagnosis right.

Usually, a confirmed diagnosis of cerebral palsy is made by the time a child is 2 years old.

How is cerebral palsy treated?

Even though cerebral palsy can't be cured, a lot can be done to manage the condition.

Your child may have a team of health professionals to help with:

• mobility
• speaking, seeing and hearing
• eating and drinking
• pain
• learning
• control of bladder (wee) and bowel (poo)
• emotional wellbeing

Physiotherapists and occupational therapists can help with everyday tasks like:

• sitting
• walking
• dressing
• using the toilet

They may suggest:

• splints or orthotics to correct muscle deformity and aid function
• exercises to help strengthen muscles
• special aids for movement, such as braces, walking frames and wheelchairs

Other treatments for movement issues can include:

• botulinum toxin (Botox) injections
• surgery

People with cerebral palsy sometimes need extra help in other areas. Medicines or therapy may be needed to help with:

• pain
• sleep problems
• eating problems

Living with cerebral palsy

Adults with cerebral palsy who work may need to adapt their working conditions. You may need to arrange:

• flexible hours
• more rest time
• changes to your physical work environment

This can help enable you to work with the same conditions as other workers.

An occupational therapist can assess your home and work environments. They can help suggest any changes or practical strategies to manage your cerebral palsy.

What are the complications of cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy can impact other aspects of your life besides your functional and physical capabilities. You may have other conditions or complications, such as:

• difficulty with communication and socialising
• intellectual disability
• gastrointestinal disorders
• epilepsy

In adults, it may also impact sexual intimacy. You can find out more about sex and disability.

Can cerebral palsy be prevented?

In many cases, there is no way to prevent cerebral palsy. But you can prevent some potential causes, to reduce the chance of cerebral palsy.

Good medical care during pregnancy and birth can help to reduce your baby's risk of cerebral palsy.

To prevent accidents and brain damage in babies and children, be sure that:

• your child is in an appropriate car restraint while in a moving vehicle
• you supervise your child around water
• you and your child wear appropriate safety equipment for activities, such as a helmet

Resources and support

The Cerebral Palsy Alliance provides support for people with cerebral palsy and their families, such as:

• therapies
• equipment and treatment
• where to find support services like life skill programs

You can also call them on 1300 888 378.

You can access My CP Guide through the Cerebral Palsy Australia website for more information on:

• diagnosis
• inclusion
• managing cerebral palsy throughout life

You can read more about parenting a child with a disability and the challenges you may face. You can access support on the Carer Gateway website.

You can also apply for various types of financial support. You may be able to get practical help through the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Do you prefer a language other than English?

The Cerebral Palsy Alliance offers translated information. Topics include:

• cerebral palsy and related health conditions
• support services
• early childhood intervention