Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy

There are a range of symptoms of cerebral palsy. The exact causes of cerebral palsy are unknown and not every person with cerebral palsy has the same symptoms; whether an individual with the condition has a particular cerebral palsy characteristic depends upon the type of cerebral palsy the person has.

Spastic Cerebral Palsy

The most common form of cerebral palsy is known as spastic cerebral palsy. This is characterized by stiff muscles which contract permanently. Frequently, this form of cerebral palsy is broken down into one of a subset of five classes:

• dipegia (both arms or both legs are affected)
• hemiplegia (only the limbs of one side of the body are affected)
• quadriplegia (both the arms and legs are impacted)
• monoplegia (one limb is impacted)
• triplegia (three limbs are affected)

Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy

The next type of cerebral palsy is spastic diplegia. The primary symptom involves problems with the legs, which includes:

• the legs turning in and crossing over at the knees which causes a scissor like effect
• trouble walking
• problems with movement

Spastic Hemiplegia Cerebral Palsy

Spastic hemiplegia cerebral palsy is another type of the condition and is characterized by symptoms of:

• tremors
• difficulty walking
• vision impairment
• seizures
• learning disabilities
  

Athetoid Cerebral Palsy

Another type of cerebral palsy is athetoid, also known as dyskinetic cerebral palsy. This features:

• slow and uncontrolled movement of the limbs
• random and abrupt movement
• abnormal posture
• drooling due to a lack of facial muscle control.

Ataxic Cerebral Palsy

Finally, ataxic cerebral palsy is a form of cerebral palsy. Symptoms include:

• a lack of balance and coordination
• difficulty with walking and movement
• intentional tremor (which occurs when the person attempts to intentionally and voluntarily reach for an object)

What to Do When Symptoms Appear

If you, a family member or friend experiences symptoms of cerebral palsy, the first thing to do is to contact a primary care physician. Meeting with the physician and discussing your symptoms is the first step in obtaining a proper diagnosis and ruling out any other sources of the symptoms. Frequently, the primary care physician will recommend consultation with a neurologist. The neurologist will most likely order medical tests and/or procedures based upon his or her examination in order to determine a diagnosis and to either confirm or rule out a diagnosis of cerebral palsy.

Getting Legal Help

In the event that you, a family member of a friend receives a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, you may seek to have your medical history reviewed by a cerebral palsy attorney. An experienced cerebral palsy attorney will not only be able to determine whether you have a valid legal claim, but also the attorney can assist you in obtaining compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and any other damages you may be entitled to receive.