Signs of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a term given to a group of disorders that affect a child's ability to coordinate body movements. The disorder is a brain injury that occurs during the early development years and most children are diagnosed by 3 years of age. A child with certain signs or symptoms should be diagnosed immediately by your physician.

Delayed Milestones

• Your infant may exhibit early signs of cerebral palsy by delaying certain motor skills during the first four to eight months. Some of these signs might include not being able to control or support the head, not rolling over, walking or crawling. The lack of motor skills can range from mild to severe depending upon the severity of the brain damage.

Muscle Tone And Movement

• Muscles can be stiff to floppy in children with cerebral palsy. The limbs might look to be in abnormal positions such as legs crossed in a scissor-like position. Muscle movements can range from jerky and abrupt to slow.

Seizures

• Some children experience seizures along with cerebral palsy. These seizures can start occurring early in life or years after the disorder has been diagnosed. Sometimes seizures are hard to distinguish because of the already awkward movements of the child diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Swallowing And Drooling

• There are many muscles coordinating together in order for us to swallow correctly. Those with cerebral palsy have difficulty controlling these muscles and may experience problems with eating and drinking. At times they cannot control their saliva and may drool.

Dental And Vision Problems

• Cerebral palsy can cause weakness in the muscles that control eye movement. This causes one eye to turn inward or outward. Cavities and other dental problems affect those with cerebral palsy due to defects in tooth enamel and difficulty brushing teeth.