Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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What do the different types of cerebral palsy mean

There are four different types of cerebral palsy. Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common form, affecting approximately 70 percent of all individuals with cerebral palsy. Spasticity can be either a mild or severe impairment of motor functions. The affected limbs are usually underdeveloped, and there is a tendency for the individual to have a "scissor gait" or to toe walk. It is also common for the affected individual to have hypertonicity, an excessive tension of muscles.

There are four sub-groups of spasticity:

• 1. Hemiplegia- involvement of both limbs on one side; the arm usually more affected.
• 2. Paraplegia- involvement of both legs; arms minimally involved, or not at all.
• 3. Quadriplegia or Tetraplegia- involvement of all limbs, usually to the same degree.
• 4. Diplegia- intermediate form between paraplegia and quadriplegia; both legs involved.

Athetoid or Dyskinetic cerebral palsy occurs approximately 20 percent of the time. It is characterised by low muscle tone, slow, writhing movement patterns and involuntary jerking of the head or of the arms and legs. The movements generally increase with emotional tension and decrease while the individual is asleep.

Ataxic cerebral palsy is rare, occurring in only about 10 percent of all individuals affected. It is characterised by weakness, uncoordinated movements, and unsteadiness. A wide gait and difficulty with fine motor skills is also common.

Mixed forms or cerebral palsy are common, and is exactly what the name implies. There can be a combination of any of the cerebral palsy forms; however, spasticity and athetosis are the most common combination

Does CP affect everyone the same way

No. CP affects everyone differently. With so many different causes of CP, it is no surprise that it takes many forms. Every person with CP is a unique individual, but is likely to be classified as having a particular type of CP. Classification can be according to the type of movement disorder and/or by the number of limbs affected.

• Quadriplegia-All four limbs are involved
• Diplegia-All four limbs are involved. Both legs are more severely affected than the arms.
• Hemiplegia-One side of the body is affected. Then arm is usually more involved than the leg.
• Triplegia-Three limbs are involved, usually both arms and a leg.<.li>
• Monoplegia-Only one limb is affected, usually an arm.

It is important to remember that limbs affected by CP are not paralysed and can feel pain, heat, cold and pressure. It is also important to remember that, just because someone with CP may not be able to speak, it does not mean he has nothing to say.

Does Cerebral Palsy get worse?

No. Cerebral palsy is a nonprogressive disorder. This means that whatever damage was done to the brain will not get any worse. The problem that many parents face is that, generally, it is impossible to diagnose cerebral palsy with any certainty in infancy. Many cases are not diagnosed until somewhere around age two. It only appears that the disorder is progressive because the symptoms may not appear until the child's lack of motor skills, or other developmental delays begin to emerge. For example, a child at age two may have difficulty walking and at age six difficulty in writing and reading. The difficulty in reading and writing is not a progression of the cerebral palsy, but has appeared as a developmental milestone should have been attained. In other words, the difficulty at age six will occur if the brain injury affected that particular developmental milestone, regardless of any interventions on the part of the parents.

How many children are born each year with Cerebral Palsy

Each year about one in four hundred children are born with Cerebral Palsy and parents with a newly-diagnosed baby require help and patience to adjust to the problems of caring for a child with special needs.