If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, it is likely that you will have many questions. What is cerebral palsy? How could it affect your child’s life? What treatments and support are available?

It's important to get the right information about cerebral palsy at an early stage, because this condition - caused by damage to the developing brain - can affect a person's life in various significant ways, including their ability to move, communicate and learn. As such, learning more about cerebral palsy will make it easier for your family to support an affected child, and ensure they are given the support they need to achieve the best possible quality of life.

In this blog post, we explain what cerebral palsy is, outline its common symptoms and causes, and discuss available treatments and support options. We will also cover situations in which cerebral palsy might result from medical negligence, and the circumstances under which a claim for compensation might be made.

Cerebral Palsy: What Is It?

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition caused by injury or abnormal development in the developing brain. It primarily affects muscle tone, movement and coordination, influencing a child's ability to control movement and maintain balance. The injury typically occurs before, during, or shortly after birth.

The symptoms of cerebral palsy differ widely from one person to another. Some children with cerebral palsy have mild muscle stiffness or difficulties with coordination, while others experience more severe neurological symptoms, such as involuntary movements or issues with mental development.

Although cerebral palsy involves brain abnormalities, it is not a progressive condition. This means that the initial damage to the baby's brain does not worsen over time. However, the symptoms can change as a child grows, and without appropriate management, some difficulties might become more apparent with age.

Children with cerebral palsy often benefit from early intervention to support their development, including therapies designed to improve motor function, muscle coordination and communication skills. With suitable treatments and support, many people with cerebral palsy lead fulfilling lives, which makes it vital to get access to the right forms of therapy as early as possible.

What Is the Cause of Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is caused by damage or abnormal development in areas of a baby’s brain responsible for controlling movement, balance and coordination. This damage typically happens either before birth, during labour, or in the early months of life.

Several risk factors may increase the chances of a child developing cerebral palsy:

• Premature birth or low birth weight: Babies born early or with low birth weight are at increased risk due to their developing brains being more vulnerable.
• Complications during pregnancy or childbirth: Issues like reduced oxygen supply to the baby’s brain (hypoxia), infections, or untreated maternal health conditions can result in brain injury.
• Infections shortly after birth: Serious infections such as meningitis or encephalitis can affect brain growth, leading to cerebral palsy.
• Low blood sugars in the newborn period: This can lead to brain damage from hypoglycaemia.
• Kernicterus: Occurs when bilirubin, the substance that causes jaundice, damages the baby’s brain. 
• Head injuries in early childhood: Trauma to a young child's brain can affect movement and coordination, causing symptoms associated with cerebral palsy.
• Genetic factors: Rare genetic disorders can affect brain development, increasing the likelihood of abnormal brain development linked to cerebral palsy.

In some cases, cerebral palsy can result from medical negligence. This may include mistakes during pregnancy or childbirth, delays in diagnosis or treatment of infections, or inadequate care provided to premature babies. If cerebral palsy occurs due to clinical negligence, families might be able to make a claim to help support their child's future care.

To learn more, take a look at our guide to what causes cerebral palsy during pregnancy.

What Are the Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy symptoms vary widely, depending on which areas of the developing brain are affected and how severe the damage is. Most children show early signs during infancy or early childhood, though some symptoms become clearer as a child grows and develops, allowing doctors to diagnose cerebral palsy and provide the necessary treatment.

Common symptoms of cerebral palsy include:

• Muscle spasticity: leading to tight muscles and difficulty moving freely.
• Poor coordination and balance: affecting the child's ability to crawl, sit, walk or reach developmental milestones.
• Involuntary movements: uncontrollable muscle movements that interfere with everyday activities.
• Abnormal muscle tone: muscles may appear unusually tight (increased muscle tone) or floppy.
• Motor delays: delays in movements such as rolling over, sitting independently, crawling, or walking.
• Speech and swallowing difficulties: problems controlling mouth and throat muscles, affecting speech clarity and the ability to eat safely.
• Intellectual disability: some children with cerebral palsy have learning or cognitive difficulties; however, many others have average or above-average intelligence.
• Chronic pain: due to tight muscles, abnormal posture, or associated health conditions.
• Neurological symptoms: such as seizures or sensory processing difficulties.

Symptoms can range from mild to severe. For example, one child might experience only minor difficulties with coordination, while another child could require ongoing support for everyday activities.

Early identification of cerebral palsy symptoms is helpful, as it allows healthcare professionals to put appropriate treatments and therapies in place to support the child’s development and quality of life.

Read our guide to find out more about how to spot cerebral palsy symptoms in babies.

Exploring the Different Types of Cerebral Palsy

Technically, cerebral palsy is not a single condition, but an umbrella term used to describe a group of related but distinct neurological disorders. Each type of cerebral palsy affects the body in unique ways, depending on the specific area of the developing brain affected, and the resulting movement difficulties a child experiences. The main types are:

• Spastic cerebral palsy: This is the most common type, and causes increased muscle tone, resulting in stiff muscles and difficulties controlling movement. Spastic cerebral palsy can affect various parts of the body, such as one side (haemiplegia), the legs (diplegia), or all four limbs (quadriplegia).
• Dyskinetic cerebral palsy: People with dyskinetic cerebral palsy experience involuntary movements that can be repetitive, twisting or jerky. These unpredictable movements can affect muscle coordination, speech, eating and general motor function. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy results from damage to parts of the brain that control voluntary movements.
• Ataxic cerebral palsy: This is a less common form, characterised by problems with balance, coordination and depth perception. Children may have difficulty performing precise movements like writing, picking up small objects, or maintaining a steady walk. Ataxic cerebral palsy is typically caused by damage to the cerebellum, the part of the brain involved in coordinating movement.
• Mixed cerebral palsy: Some children experience symptoms of more than one type of cerebral palsy. The most frequent combination is spastic and dyskinetic cerebral palsy. Mixed cerebral palsy can result in a broader range of symptoms, requiring personalised care and therapy plans.

Identifying the type of cerebral palsy is important in helping medical professionals and therapists develop suitable treatment plans that can support the child’s development and improve their quality of life. Learn more about the different types of cerebral palsy.

How Is Cerebral Palsy Treated?

While cerebral palsy has no cure, many treatments and therapies can help people who have the condition manage their symptoms and live fulfilling lives. The goal of treatment is to support a child’s development, improve motor function, reduce discomfort and enhance independence.

Common treatments and support options include:

• Physiotherapy: Physiotherapy helps to manage muscle stiffness, increase strength, and improve balance, coordination and movement. Regular sessions can enhance motor function, help to maintain mobility, and reduce chronic pain or discomfort.
• Occupational therapy: Occupational therapists assist children with cerebral palsy in learning everyday tasks such as dressing, eating, and personal hygiene. They can also provide adaptations and specialist equipment to make daily life easier and increase independence.
• Speech and language therapy: Speech and language therapists support children who have difficulties speaking, swallowing, or communicating. Therapy can involve exercises to strengthen the muscles involved in speech, strategies for clearer communication, and advice on safely managing swallowing difficulties.
• Medication: Doctors may prescribe medications to ease symptoms such as muscle stiffness, spasticity or seizures. Medications like muscle relaxants or anticonvulsants can help to improve comfort and enhance overall quality of life.
• Surgical interventions: In some cases, surgery may be recommended. Surgery can reduce muscle stiffness, improve posture, correct spinal deformities, or address other physical difficulties that might not respond fully to therapy or medication.
• Ongoing support and mental health care: Living with cerebral palsy can affect a child's emotional wellbeing. Access to mental health services, including counselling or psychological support, can help children and families work through emotional challenges associated with cerebral palsy.

With the right combination of therapies, treatments and ongoing support, many people with cerebral palsy can enjoy an active, fulfilling life. Learn more about the treatment options available for cerebral palsy here.

When Can You Make a Cerebral Palsy Compensation Claim?

If cerebral palsy was caused by medical negligence, it might be possible to make a compensation claim. Medical negligence means that the care provided by healthcare professionals - such as doctors, midwives, nurses or other medical staff - fell below acceptable standards, resulting in harm to the child.

Examples of medical negligence that could result in cerebral palsy include:

• Failure to properly monitor and manage pregnancy complications that increased the risk of premature birth or brain injury.
• Delays in performing an emergency caesarean section when signs indicated the baby was distressed during labour.
• Inadequate care during or shortly after birth, such as delays in recognising and treating infections or low oxygen levels.
• Errors in diagnosing or treating conditions shortly after birth that can lead to brain damage, such as meningitis, hypoglycaemia or severe jaundice.

Compensation from a medical negligence claim can provide financial support for specialist care, therapies, medical equipment and other resources to help people who live with cerebral palsy lead more comfortable and independent lives.