Symptoms of Mild Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a condition that occurs when there is damage to the areas of the brain that control movement. This damage can occur to the brain of a child during pregnancy, delivery or right after birth. CP is classified by type, depending on how the body is affected. The challenge with this condition is that the early symptoms may be so subtle that they may not be indicative of CP. This means it may take time to reach an accurate diagnosis. In some cases, there may be no signs of the disease until the child shows developmental delays. However, learning to recognize the signs will help you work with your health care team to properly diagnose and teat this condition.

Delays in Development

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the first signs of a mild case of CP may show up when your child is unable to complete certain tasks by a certain age. He may have trouble rolling over, maintaining balance, crawling, walking, smiling or sitting up. It may be difficult for a child with CP to run, kick or coordinate movement. CP tends to affect one side of the body more than the other, so one-sided weakness may be a clear sign.

Lack of Muscle Tone

An infant who has CP may appear to have very relaxed muscles, called hypotonia, and even seem floppy. This may occur during the first few months of life. In later months, your child may develop hypertonia. This means that your child's muscles become very stiff and rigid. The muscles may be very weak, and the child may develop a shakiness or experience tremors.

Additional Symptoms


CerebralPalsy.org also recommends being on the lookout for excessive drooling, trouble sucking, difficulty using scissors or pencils, weak facial muscles and inability to control the tongue. It is also good to know that in most cases, mild symptoms tend to be noticeable between 18 months and three years of age.