The most common type, affecting roughly 80 percent of people with CP. It causes stiff, tight muscles that can make movement difficult, and it is often described by the parts of the body it affects.
Understanding a Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis
Learning that your child has cerebral palsy can feel overwhelming, and it is natural to have questions about what caused it and what comes next. This page is here to help you understand the condition, recognize its different forms, and learn when a diagnosis may be connected to a preventable medical error.
What is cerebral palsy?
Cerebral palsy, often shortened to CP, is a group of disorders that affect movement, muscle tone, posture, and balance. It is caused by abnormal development of the brain or damage to the developing brain, which can happen before, during, or shortly after birth. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability in childhood, affecting about 1 in 345 children in the United States.
Cerebral palsy is not a progressive condition, which means the underlying brain injury does not worsen over time. The way symptoms appear can change as a child grows, and with early, consistent care, many children make meaningful progress toward greater independence.
Signs and symptoms
The signs of cerebral palsy vary widely from child to child and often become noticeable as a baby’s nervous system develops. Many families first notice that their child is not meeting expected developmental milestones. Common signs include:
- Delays in reaching milestones such as rolling over, sitting up, crawling, or walking
- Muscles that are unusually stiff or unusually floppy
- Poor coordination, balance, or difficulty with controlled movement
- Favoring one side of the body, or unusual posture
- Limited range of motion in the joints
- Difficulty with fine motor tasks, feeding, or speech
Because early signs can be subtle, most children are not formally diagnosed until age two or later. A diagnosis is typically made through a detailed medical history, a neurological examination, and imaging studies of the brain.
What causes cerebral palsy?
Cerebral palsy results from an injury to or abnormal development of the brain. Some cases have no identifiable cause, while others are linked to specific events before, during, or after birth. Contributing factors can include:
- A lack of oxygen to the brain during labor and delivery, sometimes called hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE
- Premature birth or low birth weight
- Infections during pregnancy that affect the developing brain
- Bleeding in the brain or a stroke before, during, or after birth
- Severe, untreated newborn jaundice, which can lead to kernicterus
- Trauma to the head during a difficult delivery
When cerebral palsy may be medical malpractice
Not every case of cerebral palsy is the result of medical negligence. Many happen for reasons no one could have prevented, and a diagnosis alone does not mean a mistake was made. In some cases, however, the condition may be linked to a preventable error during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. Scenarios that may point to negligence include:
- Failure to properly monitor the baby’s heart rate or recognize signs of fetal distress
- Failure to respond to oxygen deprivation, including a delayed or missed emergency cesarean section
- Improper use of delivery tools such as forceps or a vacuum
- Failure to diagnose and treat a maternal infection during pregnancy
- Failure to identify and treat severe newborn jaundice before it causes brain injury
Determining whether negligence played a role requires a careful review of the medical records and the insight of qualified medical professionals. The attorneys at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC work closely with medical experts to examine what happened during the pregnancy and birth, whether the standard of care was met, and whether a preventable error contributed to a child’s injury.
Treatment and long-term outlook
There is no cure for cerebral palsy, but early and ongoing treatment can make a meaningful difference. Because the condition is not progressive, care focuses on helping each child build strength, improve mobility, prevent complications, and reach the highest possible level of independence. Depending on a child’s needs, treatment may include:
- Physical and occupational therapy to build strength, balance, and motor skills
- Speech therapy to support communication
- Medications to ease muscle tightness and spasms
- Orthotic devices such as braces to support movement
- Surgery to loosen tight muscles or correct related problems
- Assistive technology and adaptive equipment
Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition, and the cost of therapy, equipment, medication, and home modifications can place a significant emotional and financial strain on a family. Understanding what caused the injury is an important step in planning for a child’s future and securing the support they may need.
Injury Types: Cerebral Palsy
Recognizing the types of cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy is generally grouped into four types based on the kind of movement problems it causes. Understanding which type a child has can help families make sense of a diagnosis and plan the right care.
Spastic cerebral palsy
Ataxic cerebral palsy
The least common type, primarily affecting balance and coordination. Children may have trouble with quick or precise movements, such as writing or reaching for an object.
Dyskinetic cerebral palsy
Marked by involuntary movements that can be slow and writhing or quick and jerky. It can affect the hands, arms, feet, and legs, and sometimes the face and tongue, making sitting, walking, or speaking harder to control.
Mixed cerebral palsy
A combination of more than one type, when symptoms do not fit a single category. The most common mix involves both spastic and dyskinetic features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about cerebral palsy.
A cerebral palsy diagnosis brings many questions. Here are answers to a few that families ask most often.
What is the connection between cerebral palsy and a birth injury?
Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to or abnormal development of the brain, and in some cases that damage happens during birth. A birth injury such as oxygen deprivation, untreated severe jaundice, or trauma during a difficult delivery can lead to the kind of brain injury that results in CP. Not all cerebral palsy comes from a birth injury, but when it does, it is worth understanding whether it could have been prevented.
Is cerebral palsy always caused by medical malpractice?
No. Many cases of cerebral palsy occur for reasons no one could have prevented, and a diagnosis by itself does not mean a medical error was made. Malpractice may be involved when a provider fails to meet the accepted standard of care, such as by not monitoring the baby during labor or by delaying a necessary cesarean section. Only a careful review of the medical records can determine whether negligence played a role.
Is there a cure for cerebral palsy?
There is no cure, but cerebral palsy is not a progressive condition, so the underlying brain injury does not get worse over time. Early and ongoing treatment, including physical, occupational, and speech therapy, can help a child build skills, improve mobility, and work toward greater independence throughout their life.
How long does my family have to file a claim?
The time limit to file a claim, known as the statute of limitations, varies by state and by the circumstances of the case, and the rules for injuries to children can differ from those for adults. Because these deadlines can be complex and can pass sooner than families expect, it is wise to speak with an attorney as early as possible so your options are not lost to time.
