Symptoms of CP differ greatly from one child to the other. It can also affect the whole body, or be limited to only one side of the body or even only one limb. It typically affects movement and coordination, speech and eating, development, as well as other problems (9).
Movement and Coordination
- Stiff muscles/Spasticity (the most common finding)
- Muscle tone abnormalities (Either being too stiff or too sloppy)
- Stiff muscles with normal reflexes (Rigidity)
- Tremors
- Lack of balance and coordination (Ataxia)
- Writhing movements
- Difficulty walking (ex. crouched gait/scissors-like gait/wide gait)
- Favoring one body side (ex. dragging on side while crawling/reaching out using one hand)
- Difficulty in fine motor skills (ex. using cutlery/buttoning their clothes)
Speech and Eating
- Speech delay
- Difficulty speaking
- Difficulty eating or chewing
- Excessive drooling
Development
- Learning difficulties
- Intellectual disability
- Growth delay (being shorter or thinner than expected for age)
- Delay in motor skills
Other Problems
- Seizures
- Hearing problems
- Vision problems or eye movement abnormalities
- Abnormal pain/touch sensation
- Bladder/Bowel problems (ex. constipation or urinary incontinence)
- Behavioral or psychiatric problems