Cerebral palsy describes a group of neurological disorders that affect body movement and muscle coordination. Although the symptoms of cerebral palsy do not become worse over time, parents and doctors may not notice the subtle signs exhibited by newborns. Newborns, typically defined as a baby in the first 100 days of life, do not move very much on their own and their movements usually appear uncoordinated as their bodies try to learn how to control the muscles. Therefore, signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy often become apparent later in infancy.
Causes
Although the main symptoms of cerebral palsy include difficulty with movements, the disorder does not affect the muscle or nerves in the body. Cerebral palsy occurs due to brain damage usually sustained during fetal development. A combination of factors may contribute to the brain damage that leads to cerebral palsy. This includes genetic factors, the presence of a maternal infection or fetal injury. Any one of these can interrupt the normal process of brain development causing damage that interferes with the transmission of signals from the brain.
Risk Factors
Previously doctors attributed most cases of cerebral palsy to brain damage sustained during labor and delivery. The National Institutes for Neurologic Disorders and Stroke report that only 5 to 10 percent of cases occur due to a lack of oxygen during delivery. A number of other factors exist that increase the risk of cerebral palsy. This includes low birth weight, premature birth, multiple births, exposure to toxic substances during pregnancy, Rh incompatibility, and mothers with thyroid disorders or mental retardation.
Early Signs
Although it can be difficult to assess development disorders in newborns, they can exhibit subtle signs of cerebral palsy. Although most newborns and mothers need time to get used to one another, trouble sucking may signal a neurological disorder. Newborns with cerebral palsy may also exhibit inconsistent muscle tone, sometimes holding their arms or legs rigid while at other times seeming floppy. Cerebral palsy can also cause excessive drooling in newborns.
Developmental Delays
All babies progress at different rates, reaching milestones at different times, but newborns and infants with cerebral palsy often experience developmental delays. Newborns and infants may have trouble moving from one position to another. Lifting the head up, one of the first physical milestones, may be delayed. In addition, cerebral palsy may prevent an infant from learning to sit up on her own, causing her to topple over easily. The ability to grasp items may also be delayed. As the infant grows into a toddler other developmental delays can include walking late and difficulty with fine motor skills such as holding crayons or buttoning a button, according to Cerebralpalsy.org.
Other Signs
The signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy differ from child to child and depend upon the area of the brain that sustained damage. Many signs may not become apparent until the newborn becomes older, such as difficulty with speech, but others may surface during infancy. Many with cerebral palsy also exhibit spinal deformities that create a curvature or humpback. Others suffer from impaired vision, which parents may notice as the eyes cross, or impaired hearing that can be noticed as a newborn.
