By Eddie Jones, partner and head of medical negligence, JMW Solicitors

Cerebral palsy is a neurological condition that affects a child’s movement, balance and coordination. It’s a lifelong condition that can lead to disability, making early diagnosis and treatment crucial for improving a child’s quality of life.

This article aims to help parents and carers identify the early signs of cerebral palsy, outlining the subtle indicators and red flags that may appear during a baby’s developmental milestones.

What is cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term for a group of related conditions that lead to issues with motor function, poor balance and coordination, and other developmental delays. It is caused by brain damage occurring during or just after birth, or because of abnormal brain development in the womb.

What causes cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy may be caused by:

• Bleeding in the baby’s brain
• Lack of blood and oxygen supply to the brain during and immediately after birth
• Infections affecting the mother during pregnancy
• Mismanagement of newborn jaundice
• Serious head injury sustained during infancy
• Failure to treat low blood sugars (hypoglycaemia) in the newborn period

Who is at risk?

Some infants are more susceptible to cerebral palsy, including:

• Babies born prematurely (before 32 weeks)
• Those with a low birth weight
• Children who are part of a multiple birth (eg, twins or triplets)

Symptoms and developmental problems

Children with cerebral palsy may experience:

• Chronic issues with stiffness, muscle tone and muscle spasticity
• Irregular posture, poor balance and coordination
• Delays in reaching developmental milestones
• Difficulty swallowing, visual impairment, speech and communication problems
• Learning difficulties

How to spot cerebral palsy symptoms in babies

The earlier cerebral palsy is diagnosed, the quicker the child can receive necessary treatment. Most symptoms become noticeable during the first few years of life.

The main symptoms of cerebral palsy include the following:

• Stiff or floppy muscles affecting movement
• Weak arms and legs
• Irregular movements, including jerky movement and muscle spasms
• Delays in reaching key development milestones (eg, sitting after eight months, walking after 18 months)

Additionally, there are a number of additional symptoms that could emerge as a consequence of cerebral palsy:

• Learning difficulties
• Difficulties with feeding and swallowing
• Constipation, speech problems, seizures or fits
• Difficulty falling asleep
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
• Hips that dislocate easily
• Reduced vision and squinting
• Hearing loss

It is also important to bear in mind that cerebral palsy can manifest differently in children of different ages. Parents should bear these variations in mind when looking for signs of this condition:

For infants younger than six months:

• Stiff or floppy arms
• Head sags downwards when picked up
• Overextends back or neck when held
• Legs stiffen and become crossed when picked up

For infants aged between six and 10 months:

• Does not roll over in either direction
• Cannot bring hands together or to mouth
• Reaches out with one hand, keeping the other in a fist
• Unable to sit unaided

For infants older than 10 months:

• Unable to crawl or crawls in a lopsided manner
• Hops on knees or drags themselves by hands in a seated position
• Unable to pull themselves into a standing position
• Unable to walk with or without support 

Types of cerebral palsy

Additionally, parents should be aware that there are several different types of cerebral palsy, all of which have slightly different symptoms:

• Spastic cerebral palsy – mostly associated with muscle stiffness and tightness, leading to abnormal movements and a limited range of motion
• Dyskinetic cerebral palsy – causes the muscles to alternate between being stiff and floppy, resulting in spasms, uncontrolled movement and abnormal muscle tone
• Ataxic cerebral palsy – linked to balance and coordination issues, resulting in wobbly or awkward movements and occasional tremors, and subsequent problems with walking, holding objects and writing
• Mixed cerebral palsy – characterised by symptoms from multiple types of cerebral palsy at the same time. The most common variation combines the symptoms of dyskinetic and spastic cerebral palsy

How is cerebral palsy treated?

By making sure that cerebral palsy is identified early, parents can ensure that their children are receiving the treatments they need to have the best possible chance of a good quality of life.

The most common therapies available for cerebral palsy include:

• Physiotherapy, to encourage movement, improve muscle strength, and prevent muscles from shortening
• Speech and language therapy to aid with communication issues
• Occupational therapy to help children to carry out everyday tasks, such as going to the toilet
• Medications to help children to manage stiff or tight muscles
• Educational support to address their educational needs and ensure they are able to succeed in school
• Surgery to help restore movement to parts of the body, making walking easier, repairing hip dislocations and correcting scoliosis

When to seek compensation for medical negligence

Cerebral palsy can have a profound impact on a child’s life, affecting not only their physical abilities but also their emotional wellbeing, education and overall quality of life. As such, when a child develops the condition as the result of a mistake or negligent care by a medical professional, their family may be entitled to claim compensation.

A compensation claim provides the necessary financial support to provide the best care and opportunities for the child. This includes funding for therapies, educational support, adaptive equipment and other resources that can make a significant difference in the child’s life.

As such, if you suspect that your child’s cerebral palsy resulted from substandard care during birth, it’s essential to consult with legal experts who specialise in medical negligence to see whether you might have a case.

The pursuit of compensation is a complex and sensitive matter, but it can be a vital step in ensuring that your child has access to the care and support they need. It is about acknowledging the lifelong challenges that cerebral palsy presents, and taking action to secure the resources that can help your child achieve the best possible quality of life.