Cerebral Palsy Symptoms and Effects

The symptoms and effects of cerebral palsy vary, depending on the location and extent of the damage to the brain. Some children have normal intelligence; others have learning disabilities. Some children have mild difficulties with movement; others are unable to control their limbs. Despite the great variation in symptoms, certain effects are common among people who have cerebral palsy.
Primary Effects
Cerebral palsy affects the areas of the brain that control muscle tone, movement, balance and coordination. As a result, all people who have cerebral palsy experience some degree of difficulty making smooth, deliberate movements. Typical symptoms include:
Abnormal muscle tone (muscles with too much or too little tone)
Muscles that pull unevenly on the joints
Abnormal reflexes (the persistence of primitive reflexes that people normally outgrow during infancy)
Balance and movement problems
Primary effects of cerebral palsy may improve with some treatments.
Secondary Effects
As a child grows and develops, the primary effects of cerebral palsy can lead to secondary effects, including:
Inadequate muscle growth, which causes contractures (shortening) of muscles and tendons
Bone deformities
Misalignment of the joints
Excessive fatigue with movement and walking
Pain
Treatments can often slow or correct secondary effects of cerebral palsy.
Tertiary Effects
The primary and secondary effects of cerebral palsy can lead people to adopt “coping responses”—ways of moving that compensate for challenges. For example, abnormal muscle tone in the legs can result in stiff knees that make walking difficult. People might compensate for this challenge by swinging their legs in a circle rather than a straight line when walking.
Tertiary effects typically improve following treatment of primary and secondary effects, assuming patients undergo rehabilitation therapy as part of their treatment plans.
Possible Associated Effects
Depending on the extent and location of the damage to the brain, some people who have cerebral palsy experience additional health and cognitive (thinking and learning) challenges. Some examples include:
Breathing difficulties
Depression, anxiety and mental health disorders
Feeding and swallowing disorders (dysphagia)
Hearing loss and vision problems
Learning disabilities or cognitive impairment
Seizures and epilepsy
Sensory issues
Sleep disorders
Speech and language difficulties
Age-Related Effects
The brain-related issues that cause cerebral palsy don’t get worse. The effects of cerebral palsy, however, often do progress as people age—especially without adequate treatment. For example, muscles that can support a 40-pound child might be too weak to support a 130-pound adult. In addition, abnormal muscle tone causes abnormal stress on the joints, which can wear out or become painful.

For these reasons, people who have cerebral palsy sometimes lose abilities—such as walking—when they grow older. In fact, people who have cerebral palsy might begin noticing the effects of aging in early adulthood. That’s why cerebral palsy requires a lifetime of expert medical care. Learn about Gillette’s services for teens and adults.