Types of Cerebral Palsy

The Mitchell Law Firm of San Jose discusses the major types of cerebral palsy.

Cerebral palsy, or CP, is caused by damage to an infant’s (to age three) brain.  The damage affects the parts of the brain that control movement, coordination, and may impact other functions.  CP does not progress as the child gets older, however, the damage the problems CP causes may cause the development of physical problems. 

There are three primary types of CP:  spastic, athetoid, and ataxic.  Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type, and is caused by damage to the brain’s central cortex.   Spastic CP is characterized by tight, or spastic, muscles.  This causes stiff, jerky movements and can affect growth. The build up of damage caused by the spastic movements can cause deformities. Spastic CP ranges from mild to severe, and is divided up into three categories:

Spastic diplegia - This type involves the leg and hip muscles.  The legs might cross, a condition known as “scissoring.

Spastic hemiplegia - This type involvement is limited to one side of the body.  Seizures, delayed speech, and vision problems on the affected side are common.

Spastic quadriplegia - This is the most serious type of spastic CP.  Children affected with this type are usually mentally retarded, cannot walk, and suffer frequent seizures.

Athetoid CP is caused by damage to the cerebellum or basal ganglia.  Most children with athetoid CP have normal intelligence, but have physical difficulties.  The damage causes problems with posture and movement coordination.  The child may have difficulty speaking, swallowing, walking, and grasping.  Children with athetiod CP have difficulty controlling their tongue and face muscles, which manifest themselves in grimacing, drooling, and uncontrolled tongue movement.

Ataxic CP is caused by damage to the cerebellum, and usually affects all limbs.  Children with ataxic CP have low muscle tone, coordination difficulties, lack a sense of balance and depth perception, and therefore have trouble walking.  This type of CP is characterized by tremors, and this shaking makes writing and other precise activities difficult.

Some children might suffer from mixed CP, which usually shows characteristics of the spastic and athetoid types.

For a free consultation about CP and other birth injuries call The Mitchell Law Firm at 866-616-9947, or fill out our web form.