What are the signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy in a child or infant?

 

A: Cerebral palsy is a movement disorder caused by an injury or abnormality of the brain usually around the time of birth.

And as lawyers representing children with cerebral palsy caused by birth injuries, like delay in performing a ceasarean section, we are often asked about signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy.

One of the most concerning signs would be if a child is not meeting his or her developmental milestones - not rolling over, sitting up, crawling, standing, walking or talking when they normally should.

Sometimes children with cerebral palsy don't have muscle coordination (this is also called ataxia) or stiff muscles with movement (spasticity).

Other signs and symptoms can include problems with sucking or eating, excessive drooling, difficult swallowing, problems with fine motor skills (like picking up small objects).




Cerebral Palsy can be a devastating injury to a baby, with brain damage, paralysis and developmental delay.  Every child is different, so call us to get more information or to investigate whether your child's cerebral palsy was caused by preventable medical malpractice.