Symptoms of Infant Cerebral Palsy

[Dale Gribble]

What are the symptoms of cerebral palsy?

Symptoms can be confusing and there is some debate about the age of
onset of symptoms. Some think the onset of symptoms must be before the
age of two to be considered cerebral palsy, while others think age
five is the cut-off point.

There are a number of things you can look out for:

~~A baby who is over two-months old and feels stiff or floppy, arches
their back or stretches out their neck when you hold them.

~~A delay in the appearance of developmental milestones within the
first two years, for example being able to sit up without support by
around 6-months-old and being able to walk by around 14-months-old.
(Remember, different children develop at different stages, therefore
these ages are estimates. However, if you are worried that your child
is not developing the way they should, visit your doctor for ease of
mind.)

~~You may notice that your child only ever uses one hand to reach for
things or uses only one side of their body when crawling.

~~Many infants with cerebral palsy have low muscle tone. This is
usually noticeable before other problems, such as movement, become
apparent.

There is no single test for cerebral palsy. A diagnosis is usually
made only after the child has been carefully observed and certain
tests have been carried out. Tests may include a neurological exam in
which things like posture and reflexes are examined.

[Donna Metler]

Please note that Cerebral Palsy isn't a diagnostic term. It's a blanket
term, which covers a whole lot of conditions and a whole spectrum of
severities. It really just means brain damage which is affecting
neurological communication with the muscles. About all it is useful for is
to put as a diagnosis on an insurance billing code.

In addition, it tends to scare people. At the time I was diagnosed, there
were a lot of books still equating CP with mental retardation, which simply
isn't true-CP occurs at all levels of intelligence, and counselling parents
to place their children in insitutional care and go on with their lives,
when physical and occupational therapy can make a world of difference.

In addition, you're not going to suddenly develop CP at age 2, or at age 5.
In most cases, it is present before birth or occurs during birth (most of
the things which previously were said to cause CP after birth now have other
diagnostic labels, like shaken baby syndrome). Rather, it is simply that in
most things a child with CP, especially at the mild end, reacts and acts
like a normal infant, and it is only in the developmental lag that symptoms
show up. If a child has athetosis, it's always there, but it may not show
until big enough muscle groups are involved to make it apparent.

A good pediatrician can spot early signs, and refer to either a
developmental specialist or a neurologist for screening, and therapy can
begin as early as symptoms are noticed-I have known a few cases where a
child showed signs of spasticity and it began to be treated before the baby
even went home from the hospital.

Bottom line-it is a scary label, but it isn't something that is a death
sentence. Nor is every wiggle or unusual posturing a sign of it. It's
non-progressive, so it doesn't suddenly develop overnight and turn your
normal baby into a monster. If a child has made it to age 5, or even to age
2, has met milestones reasonably well, and has had a parent and a
pediatrician alert to normal development, they probably don't have CP-or if
they do, it's at a pretty mild level. Physical, occupational and speech
therapy can help to a dramatic degree.


"Dale Gribble" > wrote in message
om...
> What are the symptoms of cerebral palsy?
>
> Symptoms can be confusing and there is some debate about the age of
> onset of symptoms. Some think the onset of symptoms must be before the
> age of two to be considered cerebral palsy, while others think age
> five is the cut-off point.
>
> There are a number of things you can look out for:
>
> ~~A baby who is over two-months old and feels stiff or floppy, arches
> their back or stretches out their neck when you hold them.
>
> ~~A delay in the appearance of developmental milestones within the
> first two years, for example being able to sit up without support by
> around 6-months-old and being able to walk by around 14-months-old.
> (Remember, different children develop at different stages, therefore
> these ages are estimates. However, if you are worried that your child
> is not developing the way they should, visit your doctor for ease of
> mind.)
>
> ~~You may notice that your child only ever uses one hand to reach for
> things or uses only one side of their body when crawling.
>
> ~~Many infants with cerebral palsy have low muscle tone. This is
> usually noticeable before other problems, such as movement, become
> apparent.
>
> There is no single test for cerebral palsy. A diagnosis is usually
> made only after the child has been carefully observed and certain
> tests have been carried out. Tests may include a neurological exam in
> which things like posture and reflexes are examined.

[Todd Gastaldo]

Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary [2000] follows Donna's
discussion...

Note the word OR...

"Cerebral palsy...any of a group of persisting nonprogressive motor
disorders appearing in young children and resulting from brain damage caused
by birth trauma or intrauterine pathology. The disorders are characterized
by delayed or abnormal motor development^^^...which is accompanied by mental
retardation, seizures, OR ataxia..." (emphasis added)

^^^"such as spastic paraplegia, hemiplegia, or tetraplegia...See also
spastic paraplegia and Little's disease."

SINCE I HAD THE DICTIONARY OPEN...

Little's disease...called also "spastic diplegia" is said to "usually"
involve "mental deficiency," according to Dorland's.

Paraplegia: "paralysis of the legs and lower part of the body," according to
Dorland's.

(Are these latter "flaccid" paralyses as opposed to "spastic" paralyses
occuring in cerebral palsy because there is no inhibition from upper motor
neurons? It's been awhile since I learned this stuff, but this is what
Dorland's seems to indicate.)

www.dictionary.com indicates paraplegia means paralysis of both legs -
usually by trauma to/disease of the spinal cord.

www.dictionary.com says of paralysis:

[Latin, from Greek paralusis, from paralein, to disable, loosen

Thanks Donna.

Todd

A few more comments below.


"Donna Metler" > wrote in message
. ..
> Please note that Cerebral Palsy isn't a diagnostic term. It's a blanket
> term, which covers a whole lot of conditions and a whole spectrum of
> severities. It really just means brain damage which is affecting
> neurological communication with the muscles. About all it is useful for is
> to put as a diagnosis on an insurance billing code.
>
> In addition, it tends to scare people. At the time I was diagnosed, there
> were a lot of books still equating CP with mental retardation, which
> simply
> isn't true-CP occurs at all levels of intelligence, and counselling
> parents
> to place their children in insitutional care and go on with their lives,
> when physical and occupational therapy can make a world of difference.
>
> In addition, you're not going to suddenly develop CP at age 2, or at age
> 5.
> In most cases, it is present before birth or occurs during birth (most of
> the things which previously were said to cause CP after birth now have
> other
> diagnostic labels, like shaken baby syndrome). Rather, it is simply that
> in
> most things a child with CP, especially at the mild end, reacts and acts
> like a normal infant, and it is only in the developmental lag that
> symptoms
> show up. If a child has athetosis, it's always there, but it may not show
> until big enough muscle groups are involved to make it apparent.

Athetosis: a form of dyskinesia marked by ceaseless occurrence of slow,
sinuous, writhing movements, especially severe in the hands, and performed
involuntarily (Dorland's)

>
> A good pediatrician can spot early signs, and refer to either a
> developmental specialist or a neurologist for screening, and therapy can
> begin as early as symptoms are noticed-I have known a few cases where a
> child showed signs of spasticity and it began to be treated before the
> baby
> even went home from the hospital.
>
> Bottom line-it is a scary label, but it isn't something that is a death
> sentence. Nor is every wiggle or unusual posturing a sign of it. It's
> non-progressive, so it doesn't suddenly develop overnight and turn your
> normal baby into a monster. If a child has made it to age 5, or even to
> age
> 2, has met milestones reasonably well, and has had a parent and a
> pediatrician alert to normal development, they probably don't have CP-or
> if
> they do, it's at a pretty mild level. Physical, occupational and speech
> therapy can help to a dramatic degree.
>

I liked this last comment. An estimated 4.6% of HEALTHY term babies suffer
unexplained brain bleeds.

Little brains fix themselves to an astonishing degree I suspect and no doubt
physical, occupational and speech therapists help.

Are there any pediatric therapists reading?

Todd

>
> "Dale Gribble" > wrote in message
> om...
>> What are the symptoms of cerebral palsy?
>>
>> Symptoms can be confusing and there is some debate about the age of
>> onset of symptoms. Some think the onset of symptoms must be before the
>> age of two to be considered cerebral palsy, while others think age
>> five is the cut-off point.
>>
>> There are a number of things you can look out for:
>>
>> ~~A baby who is over two-months old and feels stiff or floppy, arches
>> their back or stretches out their neck when you hold them.
>>
>> ~~A delay in the appearance of developmental milestones within the
>> first two years, for example being able to sit up without support by
>> around 6-months-old and being able to walk by around 14-months-old.
>> (Remember, different children develop at different stages, therefore
>> these ages are estimates. However, if you are worried that your child
>> is not developing the way they should, visit your doctor for ease of
>> mind.)
>>
>> ~~You may notice that your child only ever uses one hand to reach for
>> things or uses only one side of their body when crawling.
>>
>> ~~Many infants with cerebral palsy have low muscle tone. This is
>> usually noticeable before other problems, such as movement, become
>> apparent.
>>
>> There is no single test for cerebral palsy. A diagnosis is usually
>> made only after the child has been carefully observed and certain
>> tests have been carried out. Tests may include a neurological exam in
>> which things like posture and reflexes are examined.
>
>

[Welches]

Dale Gribble > wrote in message
om...
> What are the symptoms of cerebral palsy?
>
> Symptoms can be confusing and there is some debate about the age of
> onset of symptoms. Some think the onset of symptoms must be before the
> age of two to be considered cerebral palsy, while others think age
> five is the cut-off point.
>
> There are a number of things you can look out for:
>
> ~~A baby who is over two-months old and feels stiff or floppy, arches
> their back or stretches out their neck when you hold them.
>
Or maybe they have colic... or likes being tipped upside down...

> ~~A delay in the appearance of developmental milestones within the
> first two years, for example being able to sit up without support by
> around 6-months-old and being able to walk by around 14-months-old.
> (Remember, different children develop at different stages, therefore
> these ages are estimates. However, if you are worried that your child
> is not developing the way they should, visit your doctor for ease of
> mind.)
>
6 months is the average for sitting up, not a cut off point. For the record,
#2 didn't sit up until 8 months, because if I sat her up then she moved
straight onto her tummy where she could crawl away.
12-15months is usual for walking. I think the usual cut off for worrying
(although they can still be normal) is not walking until closer to 2 years.

> ~~You may notice that your child only ever uses one hand to reach for
> things or uses only one side of their body when crawling.
>
Well, #2 only ever uses her right hand, but that's because she only has a
right hand. There are plenty of other reasons for only using one hand..Erbs
palsy for one. My sister was very right handed and would always choose her
right hand to take things in... she could use the other, but chose not to.


> ~~Many infants with cerebral palsy have low muscle tone. This is
> usually noticeable before other problems, such as movement, become
> apparent.
>
Again, plenty of other reasons for low muscle tone.

> There is no single test for cerebral palsy. A diagnosis is usually
> made only after the child has been carefully observed and certain
> tests have been carried out. Tests may include a neurological exam in
> which things like posture and reflexes are examined.

And on the basis that Todd G's replied... if you give birth on your side
you'll reduce your risk in developing it in later life by 30%..?
Debbie

[KR]

But all of these things don't always mean that a child has CP. My daughter
did everything left handed until 7 months, she rolled to the left, reached
with her left, crawled with her left, but now at 11 months it seems she will
be right handed.

Although CP sounds quite scary, there are lots of varying degrees. My
friends 15 month old daughter had 93% brain damage at birth and they told
her she wouldn't be going home from the hospital alive. She is very severe,
has many seizures, spasms, no use of her legs, and minimal use of her arms.
But she does have recognition of her parents and music, and her hearing and
eyesight seem to be improving. She is very severe.

Then there is a boy in their therapy group who has CP but mentally he is
just like any other child his age. He cannot walk properly without a walker
and he needs a wheelchair when out with his parents. I'm sure he will live
a relatively normal life when he is older, just with a physical disability.

So Cerebral Palsy is scary yes, but it doesn't mean the end of the world for
the person who has it.

Katherine

"Dale Gribble" > wrote in message
om...
> What are the symptoms of cerebral palsy?
>
> Symptoms can be confusing and there is some debate about the age of
> onset of symptoms. Some think the onset of symptoms must be before the
> age of two to be considered cerebral palsy, while others think age
> five is the cut-off point.
>
> There are a number of things you can look out for:
>
> ~~A baby who is over two-months old and feels stiff or floppy, arches
> their back or stretches out their neck when you hold them.
>
> ~~A delay in the appearance of developmental milestones within the
> first two years, for example being able to sit up without support by
> around 6-months-old and being able to walk by around 14-months-old.
> (Remember, different children develop at different stages, therefore
> these ages are estimates. However, if you are worried that your child
> is not developing the way they should, visit your doctor for ease of
> mind.)
>
> ~~You may notice that your child only ever uses one hand to reach for
> things or uses only one side of their body when crawling.
>
> ~~Many infants with cerebral palsy have low muscle tone. This is
> usually noticeable before other problems, such as movement, become
> apparent.
>
> There is no single test for cerebral palsy. A diagnosis is usually
> made only after the child has been carefully observed and certain
> tests have been carried out. Tests may include a neurological exam in
> which things like posture and reflexes are examined.