Cerebral Palsy Symptoms and Signs

Cerebral palsy is first of all characterized by the improper muscle tone. A muscle tone predetermines a correct posture. Whenever the muscles stop coordinating simultaneously, it can result in a wrong tone and limited movement. The fluid then hardly moves across the organism. The muscles tend to move and contract at once. That is why they need enough fluid. The core solution is to pass a course of the physical therapies to get full control over the muscles again.

One more symptom a person may have a cerebral palsy is holding the head up all the time. A muscle impairment may lead to the uncommon postures and gestures. One of them is a desire to hold a head up continuously. This type of disorder influences the balance when the posture is not fully formed. The kids cannot move their neck for some time. It results in the need to hold the head up.

Those who suffer from the cerebral palsy (CP) report about serious issues with coordination and concentration. It is a rather frequently met sign of the disorder. Once the patient goes to bed to have sleep, the problem will disappear on its own. The muscles just need to have a rest. Another common type is the spastic movements. If the person fails to pick the target object, it may refer to the first type of problem. As for the second one, the muscles become tight and pressed, and it leads to spasms and cramps.

The muscles become rather rigid when CP takes place. It happens as the muscle tone stops being normal and receiving enough fluid. It is especially obvious when a patient has hypertonia as well. That is why the muscles can become extremely tough. Various muscle regulating impairments usually mix in a person who suffers from the cerebral palsy. They begin moving rhythmically. It is hard to predict the causes and consequences as each case is highly individual.

Reflex problems. It becomes difficult to manage even the elementary reflexes associated with the extremities. Those are unintentional movements of hands and legs. While healthy people demonstrate various reflexes, those diagnosed with CP possess an excessive reflex reaction. A regular consequence is a spasticity. The reflexes may function incorrectly or uncommonly in the youngest patients. Some people do not have enough postural and defensive reflexes. It means their lives can be under threat without a good protection.

The patient diagnosed with cerebral palsy feels extra annoyed without a specific reason. In many life situations, the mood of the little kids can change several times per day. However, in case of CP, it is supported by the other signs listed in this article. It happens because of the pain and lack of the corresponding reaction to the external irritators. Other reasons could be insomnia, hunger, colic, and even lack of attention.

The posture suffers and changes when CP is present. It is the most obvious symptom of this health condition. The consequence is the distraction of healthy balance so that the child may get lost, disorientated, or confused. It is possible to notice this symptom as the kid starts to grow actively. A normal posture should be symmetrical; thus, an unhealthy one is asymmetrical. If the two sides of the body do not repeat each other exactly, it might be a warning sign. In the case of asymmetry, the extremities may be different in length or some other features.

Feeding time is one more important factor to consider when trying to identify CP. The disorder has a negative impact on the kid’s motor skills meaning movement. Any deviations reveal the neurological nature of movements, and that is what influences the overall body movements such as the activities a person has to do with his or her mouth (e.g., while eating, drinking, or talking). Many young patients who suffer from CP develop a swallowing ability over time. It results in the hindering while consuming meals.

A fine motor function is a next thing to discuss in case of cerebral palsy. One should invest physical and mental skills equally to have those movements done. Those activities are planning, critical thinking, evaluation, balance, and sensation. Any postpone in the development of these skills may define a CP. Pay attention to the intention tremors as well. For example, over time, a child may find it hard to read on his own being unbale to turn pages!

The last associated factor is an excessive docile. Each parent with more than one kid has a chance of obtaining a calm baby. It means a little person who never argues, lacks attention, cries out loud, etc. The overly docile baby is a complete opposite. The reason for that may be a cerebral palsy. A poor appearance is just another factor to consider. Different vision problems caused by CP can make it challenging to attract your baby’s attention. That is why a child becomes too passive and silent.