Is Cerebral Palsy a Learning Disability?

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition caused by brain injury sustained by babies during pregnancy or during or shortly after birth. Children with cerebral palsy will often develop a learning disability as a result of their condition, leading many parents to believe that cerebral palsy is itself a type of learning disability.

While this is not strictly accurate, it is true that children and adults with cerebral palsy may experience cognitive as well as physical impairment, which can affect the child's ability to live a normal life in various ways. As such, if your child has been affected by cerebral palsy, it is important to learn about the link between the condition and learning difficulties, and to understand why individuals may be affected differently.

The cerebral palsy claims team at JMW Solicitors has extensive experience of supporting families affected by cerebral palsy, and we have seen firsthand just how much of an impact it can have. In this guide, we explain the links between cerebral palsy and learning disabilities, and offer advice on what parents can do to help support children affected by the more severe forms of the condition.

How often do children with cerebral palsy experience learning disabilities?

Although not all children with cerebral palsy go on to develop a learning disability, it is a relatively common symptom. According to figures from the NHS, around half of all children with cerebral palsy end up with some kind of learning disability or impairment, with some individuals developing a severe intellectual disability that will require lifelong care.

This is because cerebral palsy is sometimes the consequence of illnesses or difficulties that occur during pregnancy, birth or the first few weeks after delivery, which lead to a brain injury in the baby. There are a number of potential causes of cerebral palsy, including:

• Bleeding in the baby's brain
• The blood or oxygen supply to the baby's brain being temporarily cut off
• An infection caught by the mother during pregnancy
• Meningitis contracted at a young age
• Serious head injuries

To learn more about the causes of cerebral palsy, take a look at our main cerebral palsy page or the NHS website.

However, it is important to bear in mind that cerebral palsy is mostly known as a condition that affects a child's movement, balance, posture and fine motor skills, rather than their mental development. Because this often results in the child having difficulty controlling their facial movements and speech, it is easy to mistake these symptoms as signs of a problem with cognitive functioning, but this is not necessarily the case.

As such, it is vital that parents understand the importance of prompt diagnosis if they suspect their child has cerebral palsy, so that a qualified medical professional can assess the severity of the condition and ensure they receive the right support.

How does cerebral palsy affect people, and how are children with cerebral palsy diagnosed?

If you believe that your child may have cerebral palsy, there are a number of characteristic symptoms to look out for. If you identify any of these key traits in your newborn child, you should seek medical attention:

• Stiff or floppy muscles, resulting in unnatural or shaky movements
• Weakness and a lack of strength in the arms and legs
• Irregular and uncoordinated muscle movements affecting both fine motor skills (involving the use of small muscles controlling the hands, mouth and eyes) and gross motor coordination (skills that require the whole body). This leads to a lack of balance, constant fidgeting, spasms and tremors
• Delays in reaching development milestones, such as being able to sit after eight months and walk after 18 months

In terms of learning disabilities specifically, people with cerebral palsy might be affected differently over the course of their infancy and early childhood, in ways that include:

• A short attention span
• Motor planning difficulties (trouble organising how to correctly move the limbs)
• Perceptual difficulties, meaning they find it hard to interpret information provided by their senses
• Language and speech difficulties, and underdeveloped communication skills
• Difficulty acquiring literacy, numeracy and other key skills

Additionally, many children with cerebral palsy may also be affected by the following symptoms:

• Difficulties with eating and swallowing
• Constipation
• Symptoms of epilepsy, including seizures and fits
• Severe visual impairment and/or hearing impairment

It is important to remember that cerebral palsy technically refers to a group of closely related but distinct conditions, which explains why the symptoms and the parts of the body affected can vary so much. There are four main types of cerebral palsy:

• Spastic cerebral palsy - primarily associated with muscle stiffness that affects movement
• Dyskinetic cerebral palsy - associated with alternating stiff and floppy muscles, resulting in spasms
• Ataxic cerebral palsy - characterised by clumsy movements and balance issues, which can sometimes lead to tremors
• Mixed cerebral palsy - a condition that shares symptoms of more than one type of cerebral palsy

As such, parents of children who may have cerebral palsy should consult a doctor as soon as possible. They will be able to examine the child and carry out the necessary brain scans to determine whether cerebral palsy is the cause of these problems, taking into account any potential other causes and factors.

You can learn more here about the symptoms to watch out for in babies.

What support is available for children with cerebral palsy and learning disabilities?

If your child has cerebral palsy, you will need to make sure they get appropriate treatment to improve their condition. This condition often has a serious impact on the child’s life, but with the correct early intervention, there are various treatment options and support measures available to help them retain independence and function.

Depending on your child's symptoms, the treatment that they require will vary. Some therapy options are designed specifically to address motor function symptoms, while for those with learning difficulties, children may receive support to aid their educational development. Examples of interventions that can help those with learning disabilities include:

• Language and speech therapy - this can help children with an intellectual disability to improve their speech and communication
• Physiotherapy - provides exercises to help maintain and improve movement, while also increasing strength and stopping muscles from becoming too weak
• Occupational therapy - an occupational therapist can provide children with cerebral palsy with advice on how to approach everyday tasks - such as going to the toilet - in ways that take into account their disabilities, including hearing impairment or vision impairment
• Mental health support - children with cerebral palsy may experience pain, anxiety and emotional problems on a regular basis, as well as difficulties relating to other children. Regular mental health support can help them to deal with these difficulties
• Educational support - children with an intellectual disability might require specific educational support, whether this might include support to attend a mainstream school, or finding a special school that suits their specific educational needs

In instances where cerebral palsy was caused by the negligence of a medical professional, you should seek compensation. For example, negligent treatment from a doctor, nurse or midwife during the birthing process is a common cause of cerebral palsy, and can have a life-changing effect on your family.

In these cases, you can make a medical negligence compensation claim against the doctor or organisation responsible (including the NHS) to help pay for any medical treatment or equipment your child needs, or lifestyle adjustments you need to make to accommodate their condition.