Why Do Children Develop Cerebral Palsy (CP)?

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a lifelong medical condition that affects how a child moves and communicates. 

Children with CP can have very different symptoms and abilities. Let’s take a closer look at CP and how it can affect a child’s movement and communication.

How does a child develop cerebral palsy? 

Certain medical conditions affect how the brain develops. These conditions can lead to CP. Children can also develop CP after a brain injury. 

Many things can cause brain injuries like:

• Bleeding in the brain

• Trauma

• Infections during pregnancy, like herpes or toxoplasmosis 

• Low oxygen levels during birth or right after birth

• Exposure to toxins during pregnancy or as an baby

• Inherited metabolic disorders

• Serious illnesses right after birth, like trouble breathing, low blood sugar, and seizures

These injuries have to happen very early in a child’s life in order for them to develop CP. Usually, the injury happens:

• Before a child is born

• During the birthing process

• Within the first few weeks of life

Infants who experience a brain injury can also develop CP depending on their brain’s development stage. 

Who is most at risk for developing cerebral palsy?

Children are at higher risk for the brain injuries described above if they:

• Were born prematurely 

• Are a multiple (like twins or triplets)

• Weighed less than 5.5 lb at birth

• Experienced problems during delivery

• Had a difficult or traumatic birth

If your child experiences one of these events, it does not mean they will definitely develop CP.

But if they did experience one, it’s important to watch for symptoms of CP as they get older. 

What are the symptoms of cerebral palsy?

CP affects every person differently. Some children may have mild symptoms, while others may have more severe symptoms. Children with CP can experience symptoms like:

• Muscle stiffness: Children with CP may have more tone in their muscles. This makes their muscles stiff and more difficult to move. It can also make it hard for them to walk and move around on their own.

• Trouble with balance and coordination: Some children have trouble with balance which can affect their ability to sit, stand, and walk. They may also have trouble controlling the smaller muscles in the hands. This makes it hard for them to do things like hold, turn, or handle objects. 

• Difficulty talking and swallowing: Muscles in the face and neck control how people swallow and speak. If these muscles aren’t working properly, a child with CP can have trouble forming words, eating, and drinking. 

• Vision and hearing problems: Specific parts of the brain control how people see and hear. If these parts of the brain are injured, children with CP can have difficulty seeing and hearing. 

• Learning difficulties: Certain parts of the brain control how people think, learn, and remember things. If these parts of the brain are injured, children with CP can have trouble with concentration, language, and communication. Children with CP may have learning disabilities, too.

• Seizures: Some children with CP may experience seizures. 

• Respiratory conditions: Muscles in the chest and neck help keep the lungs clear and control the cough reflex. If these muscles aren’t working properly, children can develop breathing issues. They may also get frequent respiratory infections.

Not every child with CP will experience all of these symptoms. And each symptom will be very different from person to person.

For example, some children with CP may have trouble forming certain sounds. But they still can use their voice to communicate. Other children with CP use adaptive communication devices, instead of their voice, to communicate. 

How is cerebral palsy diagnosed?

There is no one test that can diagnose CP. If your child has a medical condition or brain injury, healthcare providers will watch for symptoms as your child grows and develops.

Some tools a healthcare provider might use to help determine if your child has CP include:

• Developmental screening and formal developmental evaluations

• Vision and hearing tests

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 

• Electroencephalography (EEG)

• Swallowing tests

Most children are diagnosed with CP by the time they are 2 years old. But their symptoms may continue to evolve until they are about 4 to 5 years old. 

What are the different types of cerebral palsy?

Healthcare providers, schools, and government agencies use many classification systems to describe CP.

Older classification systems focused on which muscles were most affected. Many healthcare providers and other organizations still use these classification systems. The problem with these systems is that they don’t offer clear information about a child’s abilities.

Today, healthcare providers and researchers are looking into functional models. Some of these models include:

• Gross motor functional classification system: This model describes how a child moves and what help they need to complete their daily activities. 

• Manual ability classification system: This system explains how a child handles objects and what help they need to do things like write or use objects. 

• Communication function classification system: This model discusses a child’s ability to communicate verbally and understand language. It also describes the types of help they need to communicate. 

• Eating and drinking classification system: This system describes a child’s ability to eat and drink efficiently and whether they need help to eat and drink safely.

When used together, these models offer a more precise description of a child’s abilities. This is important so that children can receive treatment and support that best fits their needs. 

How is cerebral palsy treated?

Treatment for CP gives children the chance to explore the world. It allows them to learn, grow, and develop to their full potential.

You will work with your child’s healthcare team to create a comprehensive plan. This plan will cover your child’s physical, emotional, nutritional, and educational needs. It will look different for each child. And it can include physical therapy, educational help, medications, and adaptive equipment.

Finding an experienced healthcare team is an important first step on your family’s journey. There are several national CP organizations that offer provider finder services including:

• The Cerebral Palsy Foundation

• United Cerebral Palsy

• CP Family Network

• The American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine

These organizations can also connect you with resources and families so you can build your support network.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Jennifer Sample, MD

After a fellowship, Dr. Sample worked as the medical director at the University of Kansas Hospital Poison Center (The University Of Kansas Health System Poison Control Center), which served the state of Kansas for poison exposures. In 2007, she returned to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, as a consultant in clinical pharmacology and medical toxicology.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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