Cerebral Palsy (CP) is an umbrella term for a group of disorders. All CP disorders affect the ability to: “Cerebral” means having to do with the brain. “Palsy” means weakness in or problems using the muscles. CP occurs due to damage or abnormalities that affect the developing brain. These problems can disrupt the brain’s normal abilities. In particular, they affect the brain’s ability to control movement and maintain posture, balance, and muscle tone. Depending on cause, CP symptoms appear at different points in early childhood. They can begin in infancy or during the preschool years. They permanently affect body movement and muscle coordination. CP does not worsen over time. It is a non-progressive disorder. However, its symptoms can change or newly emerge as a child grows older. CP symptoms are highly variable. Symptoms can differ from person to person. Depending on the cause and severity of the CP, a child’s abilities vary. Here are some ways CP can affect abilities: Some affected people can move on their own. Others need various degrees of assistance to walk. Impaired movements can be associated with: A person with CP may experience a reduced range of motion. This can take place at various joints of the body. This may be due to muscle stiffness or spasticity. CP can mean problems with swallowing, chewing and feeding. CP can mean abnormalities with eye–muscle balance and alignment. This can make it difficult to focus or lead to vision disturbances. Intellect can vary with CP. Some children will show normal intellect, but others will have varying degrees of intellectual disability. With CP, there is an increased risk of developing several other disorders. These include epilepsy, blindness, or deafness. Signs and symptoms of CP can vary greatly. Some may be subtle and hard to recognize. Others are clearer. Symptoms can include: Being too stiff or having resistance to movement when moving a part of the body. Learn more. Being too stiff in muscle tone. Having stiff muscles with normal reflexes. Having a lack of balance and coordination during voluntary movements. Includes having involuntary movements, dance like movements or slow, writhing movements. This is also known as choreoathetosis. Delays in motor skills. These might include delays in rolling over, pushing up on arms, sitting up, crawling, or walking. Can be in one or more extremities. Can include early hand preference. It can also include favoring one side of the body. It may look like reaching with only one hand or dragging a leg while crawling. May include toe walking, a crouched gait, a scissors-like gait with knees crossing, a wide gait, or an asymmetrical gait. Buttoning clothes, lacing or picking up utensils may be difficult. Can include excessive drooling. It can also include problems with swallowing, sucking, chewing or eating. Includes speech delays or difficulty speaking. Problems with learning to a variable degree, slower processing or understanding. Convulsions or abnormal rhythmic jerking of a part or whole body which is due to abnormal electrical discharges from the injured brain. Problems with transitions and behavioral issues. Some signs are more commonly noted during physical exams. These include: CP has numerous causes. It is due to damage to the developing brain that causes injury or scarring in the brain or differences in the way the brain develops. Maternal Risk Factors Some factors, when present in the mother, can lead to an increased risk of CP in the baby. Maternal risk factors include: Damage to the developing brain can happen at various points. It can take place before birth, during birth, within a month after birth, or during the first years of a child’s life. Acquired cerebral palsy is the term for CP from damage after birth or during early childhood. Prenatal and Neonatal Period Prenatal risk factors occur prior to birth. Neonatal risk factors occur during or within four weeks of birth. Some of the risk factors affecting the fetus or newborns include: Postnatal Period Postnatal risk factors occur after birth. They may include: In most cases, CP cannot be prevented. However, the risks can be reduced. Maternal risk factors can be reduced by: Diagnosing cerebral palsy at an early age is essential. It can increase the wellbeing of children and their families. CP is diagnosed based two things. The first is a health history. The second is tracking a child’s growth and development over time. If concerns arise about a child’s development, the child can then be evaluated by a pediatric neurologist. This evaluation will happen as soon as possible. The specialist will evaluate the child during a visit. The specialist will review developmental milestones. Medical documentation about the pregnancy and birth history is also essential. The specialist will examine: To help understand what is causing the symptoms of CP, the provider usually opts to add more investigations. For instance, they may call for imaging tests, labs or genetic tests. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain is a common test used to detect CP. It can help pinpoint the cause of CP symptoms. It can look for a related injury or brain abnormality. It may even show when an injury took place. Along with clinical features, the MRI can also help us with specific diagnoses and add more information to do further work up such as metabolic labs or genetic tests. Vision and hearing tests are also sometimes used. Currently, there is no cure for cerebral palsy. Still, treatment can improve a child’s abilities. It can help reduce negative impacts. It can help a child lead a full life. Many children go on to enjoy near-normal adult lives when CP is well managed. Early diagnosis and treatment are important. It is associated with a better chance of overcoming disabilities. Therapies should be individualized for every child with CP. Once the diagnosis and type of CP is determined, a team of health care professionals will work with a child and the child’s parents. These professionals can identify specific impairments. They can target therapies to specific symptoms. In this way, they can optimize developmental outcomes. Therapies are focused on developing an appropriate plan to tackle the disabilities. They are designed to improve a child’s quality of life. Health care professionals helping with CP can include: Special education programs at schools also aim to work with children’s individual challenges. They can help children with CP achieve their maximum potential and learn better with supports in the classroom. Several medicines are used to treat stiff, contracted, or overactive muscles. These can include: In certain situations, if these medications are of minimal help, botulinum toxin is used. It is injected into the overactive muscles. This has become a standard treatment. An implantable pump can also be used to deliver the medicine in some patients. The pump can help send baclofen, a muscle relaxant, into the fluid surrounding the spinal cord at a regular rate Speak to your doctor about medication options and their side effects. Sometimes the spasticity and stiffness of muscles is severe in CP. When other medical therapies have failed, orthopedic surgeons lengthen muscles and tendons. This can improve mobility and reduce the pain of affected joints. Surgery for abnormal curvature of the spine or joints is also done at times. Assistive devices can significantly help some individuals with CP. Others can help compensate for muscle imbalance. They can increase independent mobility. These include: Finally, audio and visual equipment also increase the quality of life, helping with communication abilities. These include: Some can improve communication skills. Examples include: Some assistive devices can help individuals who are not ambulatory. These include: Cerebral Palsy Research Network The entire cerebral palsy community is included in the research process, the development of education materials and the implementation of current clinical care pathways. In late 2020 Cerebral Palsy Research Network merged with CP Now to form a 501(c)3 organization. Cerebral Palsy Foundation CPF hosts Cerebral Palsy Resource, where you will find expert insights, fact sheets, stories, blogs, videos, podcasts, and much more. Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance In addition, PESA has resources for medical professionals to assist in helping clinicians help the parents of their patients find the resources they need after surgery. Educators and therapists will also find helpful resources and information, including videos, guides, and relevant research. Patients who have undergone surgery are encouraged to register with the Global Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Registry to help set future research priorities. The Cerebral Palsy Tool Kit Wellbeing for Parents and Caregivers JCN: NICU Series – Prematurity and the Brain JCN: Cerebral Palsy with Dr. Bhooma Aravamuthan PTC Pinpoint Direct PTC Pinpoint Neurotransmitter Disorders Program Child Neurology Foundation (CNF) solicits resources from the community to be included on this webpage through an application process. CNF reserves the right to remove entities at any time if information is deemed inappropriate or inconsistent with the mission, vision, and values of CNF. 
SUMMARY
Movement
Range of motion
Swallowing
Vision
Intellect
Associated disorders
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Spasticity
Hypertonicity
Hypotonicity
Rigidity
Ataxia
Movement disorders
Developmental delays
Weakness
Side preference
Walking difficulties
Difficulty with fine motor skills
Oral issues
Speech problems
Learning difficulties
Seizures
Emotional and behavioral challenges
Vision and hearing problems
CAUSES
Fetal, Infant, or Early Childhood Risk Factors
Prevention
DIAGNOSIS AND SCREENING
TREATMENT AND THERAPIES
Health Care Therapies
Quality of Life Therapies
Special Education
Drug Therapies
Surgery
Assistive Devices
Resources
ORGANIZATIONS/GROUPS
The mission of the Cerebral Palsy Research Network (CP Research Network) is to optimize the lifelong health and wellness of people with cerebral palsy and their families through high quality research, education, and community programming. The CP Research Network is the largest and most comprehensive collaboration of hospitals and community members working together to improve health outcomes for people with CP.
The mission of Cerebral Palsy Foundation (CPF) is to be a catalyst for creating positive change for people with cerebral palsy. They bring together many of the country’s most prestigious medical institutions, as well as innovative thinkers in diverse areas such as technology, design, advocacy and media, in order to accelerate the development of critical advances. While their work includes important strides being made toward the eventual prevention of cerebral palsy and developmental disabilities, the focus is on the translational research, clinical application and knowledge transfer that can dramatically change lives today. 
The Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance (formerly known as The Brain Recovery Project) enhances the lives of children who need neurosurgery to treat medication-resistant epilepsy. They empower families with research, support services, and impactful programs before, during, and after surgery. PESA’s programs include research-based, reliable information to help parents and caregivers understand when a child’s seizures are drug-resistant; the risks and dangers of seizures; the pros and cons of the various neurosurgeries to treat epilepsy; the medical, cognitive, and behavioral challenges a child may have throughout life; school, financial aid, and life care issues. PESA’s resources include a comprehensive website with downloadable guides, pre-recorded webinars, and virtual workshops; an informative YouTube channel with comprehensive information about epilepsy surgery and its effects; a private Facebook group (Education After Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery) with over 300 members; Power Hour (bi-monthly open forums and live virtual workshops on various topics); and free school training to help your child’s education team understand the impact of their epilepsy surgery in school. Their Peer Support Program will connect you with a parent who has been there. The Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance also hosts biennial family conferences and regional events that allow families to learn from experts, connect with other families, and form lifelong friendships. They also provide a travel scholarship of up to $1,000 to families in need to fund travel to a level 4 epilepsy center for a surgical evaluation.PUBLICATIONS
Cerebral Palsy Research Network offers The Cerebral Palsy Tool Kit: From Diagnosis to Understanding for parents and caregivers who have a child with a Cerebral Palsy diagnosis. This must-have guide is available in English, Portuguese, and Spanish and available to download for free. You may also purchase a printed copy. 
Cerebral Palsy Research Network offers Wellbeing for Parents and Caregivers, a supportive resource guide for parents and caregivers who are raising a child, adolescent or young adult with Cerebral Palsy or another disability. Available to download for free.
Podcast from SAGE Neuroscience and Neurology/Journal of Child Neurology (JCN). In this podcast, Dr. Sonika Agarwal of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia talks about prematurity and the brain.
Podcast from SAGE Neuroscience and Neurology/Journal of Child Neurology (JCN). Dr. Alison Christy interviews Dr. Bhooma Aravamuthan of Washington University in St. Louis about Cerebral Palsy, diagnosis, and her research. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
If your child has been diagnosed with CP or has symptoms of CP without a clear cause, there may be a genetic reason – up to 1/3 of CP cases may have a genetic cause. PTC Pinpoint Direct is an innovative, sponsored testing program that can help families get answers about cerebral palsy through no-cost genetic testing. If your child qualifies, you can get a sample collection kit sent to your home and receive expert genetic counseling. Learn more and see if your child qualifies here.
For children with symptoms of neurotransmitter disorders, such as AADC deficiency which has similar symptoms to CP, the PTC Pinpoint Neurotransmitter Disorders Program offers no-cost genetic testing, post-test genetic counseling, and family screening. This program is available to patients in the U.S. and Canada who are suspected of having, or have clinical symptoms consistent with, a neurotransmitter disorder. Talk to your doctor about testing with PTC Pinpoint if your child is experiencing symptoms.
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