Whether you know a lot about cerebral palsy or you know little, something that many of us can find common ground in is its misunderstood nature by large quantities of the population. It is not something that really gets spoken about unless you talk about or look up information on it for a specific reason, which means that the general public can often be left in the dark. 

 This piece will discuss some of the things that would be good for you to know about cerebral palsy, whether you know someone who has it or not. 

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral Palsy (CP for short) is a condition affecting movement and coordination, with each individual’s symptoms being unique and varying in severity. It is the most common motor disability found in childhood and continues to affect 1 in 345 children. 

There Are Different Types of Cerebral Palsy

Did you know that there are, in fact, four different major types of cerebral palsy which are all categorised by how it affects the body and how exactly the brain is damaged?
These four different types are spastic, athetoid, ataxic, and mixed type. 

·       Spastic cerebral palsy is one of the more common types and affects walking, reflex ability and stiffness. 

·       Athetoid cerebral palsy shows symptoms by inducing muscle fluctuation, which includes floppiness in the legs and arms, posture issues and eating problems. 

·       Ataxic cerebral palsy affects speech and can cause issues with tremors or shakiness and walking positions with feet further apart. 

·       Mixed type cerebral palsy is a mix of symptoms from the different types of cerebral palsy. Parents of those with cases of mixed type would do well to speak to a cerebral palsy specialist about this. 

Cerebral Palsy is Most Commonly Caused by Brain Damage

Cerebral palsy can be caused by avoidable brain damage that has happened before, during or just after birth. 

A failure to carefully monitor both mother and baby throughout pregnancy and birth and a failure to provide timely, and appropriate, medical intervention can lead to oxygen deprivation resulting cerebral palsy.

For those who believe that their child’s CP could have been prevented, help is at hand. Contact trusted cerebral palsy solicitors for professional legal advice. 

Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis is Often Made 1- 2 Years After Birth 

Cerebral palsy is often not diagnosed immediately, and it can take a couple of years for symptoms to be fully noticed in a child. If symptoms are mild, they are often missed initially, whereas, in some babies, there are signs from birth up to six months, such as going stiff or feeling floppy in your arms. 
It is important to remember that those with cerebral palsy can live long and happy lives, with the right support in place including a range of therapies, care, specialist equipment and adapted accommodation.