What Are The Symptoms Of Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong neurological condition that can affect an individual's movement, coordination, posture, and learning. It is most often caused by damage to the brain that occurs before or during birth. Most patients with this condition are diagnosed before they are five years old, and symptoms can vary greatly in severity. For example, some patients may have only mild issues with walking, and others might need to use a wheelchair. To diagnose cerebral palsy, doctors generally observe the patient's gait, posture, and movements for several months, and brain scans are also conducted. Although the symptoms of cerebral palsy last for a lifetime, they do not worsen in severity as a patient gets older. Treatment methods for this condition include medications and surgeries to relax tight muscles, and patients are also given physical, occupational, and speech therapy to improve motor skills.

The symptoms outlined below are some of those that may be present in cases of cerebral palsy.

Loss Of Coordination And Balance

Patients with cerebral palsy typically experience some degree of loss of coordination and balance. Depending on the type of cerebral palsy a patient has, they may be unable to balance while sitting or standing, and it could be necessary to use crutches, a walker, or a wheelchair. Patients with mild forms of the condition could struggle with running, going up and down stairs, and jumping. In addition to difficulties with these gross motor skills, the patient's coordination of fine motor skills is sometimes affected. Tasks such as writing, buttoning a button, or cooking could be difficult, and the patient might struggle with hand-eye coordination. Physical therapy can be used to help patients build coordination and improve balance.

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Issues With Muscle Tone

Issues with muscle tone are common in all types of cerebral palsy. When muscle tone is affected, muscles that normally work in pairs do not function as they should, and this can cause postural changes and difficulty with sitting and other tasks that require balance. Patients with cerebral palsy may have decreased muscle tone (hypotonia), which means the muscles are floppy and more relaxed than they should be. Other patients with cerebral palsy might display increased muscle tone (hypertonia), which makes the muscles stiff and rigid. Sometimes, an individual with this condition could have some muscle groups that are too rigid and others that are too loose. Issues with muscle tone can cause a patient to need to exert three to five times more energy than an individual without cerebral palsy to complete tasks such as standing and walking. When assessing a child for cerebral palsy, doctors will evaluate muscle tone periodically. Specialized stretching exercises and other therapies may help improve muscle tone. Patients may need to take frequent breaks when doing tasks that require exertion.

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Issues With Reflexes

Some cerebral palsy patients might have underdeveloped or absent reflexes, and others could display excessive reflexes that result in twitching movements and spasms. To test reflexes, doctors gently tap on certain areas of the arms and legs with a special device. They will check for the strength and speed of the reflex, and they will also be looking for the presence of any lingering infant reflexes, including the palmar grasp reflex. When the palm is touched, infants normally make a grasping motion with the hand. This reflex is expected to disappear sometime between the ages of four and six months. If it is present after this time, it may be an indication of cerebral palsy. Doctors will also check for the presence of other lingering infant reflexes such as the placing reflex, Moro reflex, and spinal gallant reflexes. Patients will need to have their reflexes checked periodically to monitor any changes.

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Involuntary Movements

Dyskinetic cerebral palsy can cause a variety of involuntary movements. Some individuals may have quick and jerky twitches in the face, arms, or legs, and others could have movements that are slow or writhing. Tremors of the hands are common, and affected individuals might struggle to pick up utensils. Patients whose facial muscles are affected may drool, and problems with eating and speaking are often observed. Involuntary movements of the legs could make it difficult to stand or to sit still for long periods. The involuntary movements associated with this condition are permanent, but they do not get worse with time. Speech therapy can help patients improve their ability to swallow and eat, and occupational therapists can provide individuals with adaptive devices that could make it easier to hold utensils steady. Since involuntary movements can be indicative of numerous medical conditions, parents who notice their children are displaying any of these signs should ensure they get a prompt medical evaluation. It can be helpful to keep a journal that documents the child's movements and the affected body parts. Video footage of the involuntary movements could help in the diagnostic process as well.

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Difficulty Walking

Walking difficulties are a primary feature of cerebral palsy, and they manifest in different ways in each patient. Some patients with very mild forms of cerebral palsy may only have difficulty walking up and down stairs or when walking long distances. Others could display more noticeable gait variations. For example, some patients with this condition walk with a scissor-like gait that involves crossing the knees, and others walk only on their tiptoes or in a crouched position. Other possible gait changes include walking with a wide gait with the feet very far apart and the toes pointed outward or inward and walking with one leg dragging a little behind the other. Some gait changes such as walking on the tiptoes may be able to be corrected with the use of special orthotic devices or with surgeries to lengthen tendons in the ankles. Patients might need to use walking aids, including canes, crutches, braces, or walkers.