pathoscribe

Written by Keira Lim | Art by Keira Lim

Cerebral palsy , is a permanent neurological condition that affects movement, and is the most common motor disability in children in the United States. Those who are afflicted by it may experience numerous effects, with the severity of them ranging from minor to debilitating. It most commonly develops before birth, but diagnosis occurs between 18 months and 5 years old. There are many types of cerebral palsy, each with their own combination of symptoms.

It can be caused by a variety of factors, including head injuries, infections, genetic mutations, asphyxiation and more, although in most cases the origin is unknown. All of the causes above can affect brain development, especially in the cerebral motor cortex, the part of the brain responsible for controlling voluntary movement. When it is damaged, it cannot properly communicate with and control the rest of the body.

There are many risk factors that may increase the likelihood of a child having cerebral palsy. Some of them include alcohol and substance consumption, infections, premature birth, low birth weight, and multiple pregnancy. There is no prevention for it, and many of these risks cannot be avoided, but taking precautions when accessible may reduce the chance of a child developing it.

Diagnosis generally occurs a few months to years after a child’s birth. Signs of cerebral palsy in children include difficulty with movement and missing common milestones in development. If a healthcare professional suspects the disorder, there are a variety of assessments that can verify their diagnosis. They may use brain scans (ultrasound, CT, or MRI), as well as having specialists test things like speech and coordination in the child. 

Cerebral palsy is a broad term, as there are many different types of it, all coming with their own effects. These types may differ in which body parts are affected and how.. There are six types of cerebral palsy: spastic hemiplegia, spastic diplegia, spastic quadriplegia, dyskinetic, ataxic, and mixed. Patients who have one specific type of cerebral palsy may not experience all of the effects or the effects at a severe level, as it is a spectrum, and not one size fits all. Starting off, spastic describes muscles that are tight and/or cannot be moved, so the types with spastic in their names refer to having stiff or paralyzed muscles, though they differ in location of said stiffness/paralysis. Spastic quadriplegia tends to be the most severe of the three, with those affected by it normally unable to walk, suffer from seizures, and may also have an intellectual dissability. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy makes it difficult to control limb movement, as well as in the tongue and face, potentially making it difficult to get around or speak. Ataxic cerebral palsy comes with poor coordination and difficulty with fine motor skills, which can lead to difficulty in seemingly simple tasks such as walking. The last type of cerebral palsy is mixed cerebral palsy, meaning the symptoms can be a mix from any and all of the above.

Although there is no cure for cerebral palsy, there are many treatments that may make a person with with the disability’s life easier. Some of these treatments include medications, therapies, assistive technology, and surgeries. Muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants, and anticholinergics are all types of medications a patient might use to reduce involuntary movement and gain more range of motion. Those suffering from cerebral palsy may also engage in therapy, ranging from speech therapy to occupational therapy. In addition to therapy and medications, affected people may use wheelchairs, braces, and other technologies to help them with their day-to-day life. If that is not enough, people get surgeries, most often orthopedic surgeries.

Cerebral palsy can make someone’s life extremely difficult, and even if the effects aren’t as visible, people are still struggling. Instead of laughing at or joking about conditions like this that people cannot control, it’s better to provide accommodations and support, because having cerebral palsy doesn’t make any person less of a person.

Works Cited

Cerebral Palsy | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/cerebral-palsy. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025

“Cerebral Palsy: A Variety of Causes, Effects and Treatments.” Cleveland Clinic, 2 June 2025, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8717-cerebral-palsy. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025

“Cerebral Palsy.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 28 Sept. 2023, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cerebral-palsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20353999. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025

Lavender, Katie. “Cerebral palsy.” Cerebral Palsy Guide, 17 April 2025, http://www.cerebralpalsyguide.com/cerebral-palsy/. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025