Types of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy appears in three different forms plus some combination of the three. They are:

Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Spastic cerebral palsy is characterized by movements that are stiff and difficult. It is the most common form of the illness and occurs in almost 80 percent of patients with cerebral palsy. In this condition, groups of muscles are taut and constrict movement, which is stiff and jerky. These children often have trouble changing position. They also can have trouble holding and releasing objects.

Athetoid Cerebral Palsy

This condition, which affects about ten percent of cerebral palsy patients, is characterized by purposeless and involuntary movements. They occur primarily in the trunk, arms and face. These movements often hinder speech, reaching and grasping, feeding and other abilities requiring smooth coordinated movement. Thrusting out the tongue and grimacing can cause drooling, problems with swallowing, and slurred speech.

Children with athetoid cerebral palsy have poor muscle tone and it is difficult for them to hold themselves up while sitting and walking. Their movements intensify when they are emotionally distressed, but subside when they are sleeping.

Ataxic Cerebral Palsy

This form of the illness affects between 5 and 10 percent of cerebral palsy patients. Children with ataxic cerebral palsy have problems with coordination, balance and depth perception. Their problems with movement are due to reduced muscle tone and appear unsteady and very shaky. They walk with their legs spread wide apart. They have difficulty holding objects, such as a pen, due to their shakiness. Because of this tremor, they can take longer to write words or finish other tasks such as coloring or bringing a spoon to their mouths.

Mixed Cerebral Palsy

Some children have more than one type of cerebral palsy. The most common combination is spastic and athetoid. They have both tight muscle tone that spastic cerebral palsy children have and the uncontrolled movement of athetoid cerebral palsy patients. It occurs when two parts of the brain are injured. The spastic movements usually appear first, and the uncontrolled movements show up between nine months and three years of age. Although this combination is the most common combined form of cerebral palsy, other combinations also occur.

Limitations Associated with Cerebral Palsy Types

Because cerebral palsy is a movement disorder, almost any type of movement, whether intended or unintended is compromised. All kinds of impaired movement, from problems sitting and walking to speaking to using the hands, may have a drastic effect on these children’s lives, as well as the lives of adults who live with the condition.

Resources for Cerebral Palsy Patients

If your baby is born with cerebral palsy, you should call 1-866-314-9352 to speak with an attorney about the possibility of recovering financial compensation. Our Connecticut cerebral palsy lawyers have experience handling cerebral palsy cases involving medical mistakes and birth injuries. We may be able to help you.

To schedule a private discussion of your individual circumstances, please call a Connecticut cerebral palsy lawyer at The Berkowitz Law Firm today.