Early Signs of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is not a disease. Rather, it is a disorder that is nonprogressive, and it has many different causes that result in injury to the child's underdeveloped brain. This clinical syndrome affects about five out of every 1,000 births. The brain injuries that lead to the development of cerebral palsy can occur during pregnancy, at birth or even after childbirth. Knowing these facts may help mothers avoid injury during and after the birth of their baby.

It is a common early sign of cerebral palsy to notice delays in normal child development. Children exhibiting signs of cerebral palsy will be slower than other children who learn to do certain physical feats at different stages. Rolling over and sitting will not be easily achieved in the case of cerebral palsy, and these children will be slow to crawl and walk. The child with cerebral palsy may not smile, and this indicates that something may be wrong with the child's normal development.

Detecting cerebral palsy early involves paying attention to the muscle tone of the infant. Cerebral palsy can cause the muscles to be in a constant relaxed state, known as hypotonia. Or, it can also cause the muscles to be in a constant contracted state, where the muscles are very rigid. This condition is called hypertonia. Early signs of cerebral palsy related to muscle tone also include an observation of imbalanced posture. As the child moves, the child will tend to lean to one side more than the other.

Another early sign of cerebral palsy is a low Apgar score at birth. The Apgar score assesses the appearance of the baby's skin color, whether it is a low-scoring blue or a high-scoring pink. It assesses whether the baby's pulse rate is below or above 100, and how responsive the baby is to reflex stimuli. The Apgar score also records the level of muscle tone and muscle activity in the baby, as well as the baby's breathing strength. Low scores in these areas raises the concern for cerebral palsy or other health concerns.

Babies born prior to seven months or 32 weeks of pregnancy have a 10 percent chance of having a brain injury. These pre-term babies are at a higher risk of developing cerebral palsy not only due to a possible direct brain injury, but also through other complications of the pregnancy such as infections or fevers. These complications can have a direct impact on the brain development of the baby. Cerebral palsy becomes a medical concern when mothers are faced with complications during labor and delivery as well. Babies born with high levels of jaundice, as well as those newborns that have seizures, are some of the warning signs of cerebral palsy.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have documented some of the early signs of cerebral palsy in young children, according to the condition's typical manifestation at different stages of development. Children 6 months and younger, who are unable to control their heads when lifted, or their legs are very stiff and cross when picked up, should be checked for cerebral palsy. These young infants also make a fist with one hand while only using the other for reaching. Children 10 to 12 months tend to drag one side of their body while crawling, or they may not crawl at all. These children may not be able to sit or stand without assistance either. At 24 months, children with cerebral palsy may not be able to walk and they cannot play with mobile toys. These are some of the typical age and stage-related early signs of cerebral palsy that may be exhibited in a child affected by the condition.

Recognizing the early signs of cerebral palsy is important to the health of the child. The earlier a child is diagnosed, then the earlier that child can begin treatment, which has the promise of improving the effects of cerebral palsy. Discuss with the child's pediatrician any signs of cerebral palsy so that treatment can begin as soon as possible.