Types of Cerebral Palsy

Understanding the Forms of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a group of neurological disorders that affects movement and posture caused by brain damage during childbirth. CP can take different forms depending on the type and location of the brain injury.

All types of cerebral palsy have unique characteristics related to symptoms and the specific movement and body parts impacted.

The 5 cerebral palsy types include:

1. Spastic cerebral palsy, characterized by stiff and jerky movements
2. Ataxic cerebral palsy, which affects balance and coordination
3. Athetoid cerebral palsy, characterized by involuntary movements
4. Hypotonic cerebral palsy, which results in low muscle tone
5. Mixed cerebral palsy, a combination of two or more types of CP

When medical malpractice during pregnancy, labor, or delivery causes a child to develop one of the forms of cerebral palsy, families may be able to take legal action and seek money to help pay for their treatment and life-long care.

LawFirm.com works with experienced birth injury lawyers who have secured over $962 million for families impacted by cerebral palsy and other preventable birth injuries.

Get a free case review now to see if a top cerebral palsy lawyer can fight hard for everything your child deserves.

Cerebral Palsy Types

Each type of CP is linked to specific areas of the brain, which in turn affect movement and motor skills in unique ways. Knowing the types of cerebral palsy can help caregivers better understand a child’s symptoms and long-term needs.

Find out more about the 5 main cerebral palsy types and how each can impact a child’s life.

1. Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Spastic CP is the most common type of cerebral palsy, affecting up to 80% of individuals with the condition. It’s characterized by stiff muscles (hypertonia) and jerky movements (spasticity).

This type of CP occurs when the motor cortex, the part of the brain that controls movement, and the pyramidal tracts, which help send signals to the muscles, are damaged. It can affect one side of the body or both, depending on where the brain injury occurred.

Spastic cerebral palsy is also classified by which parts of the body are most affected:

• Spastic diplegia: Muscle stiffness mainly in the legs, with the arms less affected or not affected at all
• Spastic hemiplegia: Affects only one side of a person’s body, usually the arm more than the leg
• Spastic quadriplegia: Impacts all four limbs, the trunk, and the face, making it the most severe form of the condition

Children with spastic cerebral palsy often require ongoing care to manage muscle tightness and improve their motor function.

2. Ataxic Cerebral Palsy

Ataxic cerebral palsy is a rare form of CP, affecting about 2.4% of those with the condition. It’s caused by damage to the cerebellum, which helps control voluntary movement (ataxia).

Symptoms of ataxic cerebral palsy include:

• Balance problems
• Poor coordination
• Trouble walking
• Vision issues

Children with ataxic CP may experience tremors, have trouble with depth perception, and walk with their feet spread wide apart for better balance. They may appear shaky and unsteady, especially when performing tasks that require fine motor skills, like holding a pen.

This less common form of CP is challenging due to the difficulty in coordinating movements, but therapies can help improve balance and motor skills.

When the cause of cerebral palsy is medical negligence, families may be able to take legal action and seek money to help pay for their child’s care.

3. Athetoid Cerebral Palsy

Athetoid cerebral palsy, also known as dyskinetic cerebral palsy, affects about 2.6% of people with cerebral palsy. It’s caused by damage to the basal ganglia, the part of the brain that controls movement.

Children with athetoid CP experience involuntary, uncontrolled movements in the hands, feet, arms, or legs. They may have muscles that alternate between being too tight (hypertonic) and too loose (hypotonic).

Symptoms of athetoid cerebral palsy include:

• Drooling
• Feeding problems
• Floppy or stiff limbs
• Posture issues

4. Hypotonic Cerebral Palsy

Hypotonic cerebral palsy, also known as atonic cerebral palsy, makes up 2.6% of all CP cases. This type is characterized by low muscle tone (hypotonia), leading to weak, floppy muscles.

A child with hypotonic CP may struggle to control their head, experience balance and coordination issues, and have difficulty feeding and swallowing.

Due to the lack of muscle firmness, individuals with hypotonia may appear limp or unstable when moving. Children may not hit developmental milestones like crawling, standing, or walking.

“Some children don’t get diagnosed with cerebral palsy until later because they’re not walking, they’re not talking, or they’re starting to, and they have really bad coordination, really bad balance. So, they’re falling and tripping.”

– Andi Lowe, Registered Nurse and LawFirm.com case manager

5. Mixed Type Cerebral Palsy

Mixed cerebral palsy, which occurs when a child displays symptoms of two or more types of cerebral palsy, accounts for about 15% of all CP cases.

The condition occurs when multiple areas of the brain have been damaged, leading to a combination of movement issues. For example, a child might experience both the muscle stiffness of spastic CP and the involuntary movements of athetoid CP.

Due to the involvement of different parts of the brain, symptoms can vary greatly. As a result, managing mixed type cerebral palsy often requires an individual approach to treatment.

Families may have legal options if their child’s condition could have been prevented. See if a top cerebral palsy lawyer can secure the compensation and justice you deserve with a free case review.

Medical Malpractice and the Different Forms of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy can’t always be avoided, but in some cases, CP brain damage is caused by medical mistakes during pregnancy, labor, or shortly after childbirth.

Types of cerebral palsy often tied to medical malpractice include:

• Spastic cerebral palsy: It’s often caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain (hypoxia) during delivery. When doctors fail to respond to fetal distress, delay a medically necessary C-section, or misuse forceps or vacuum extraction delivery assistance tools, spastic CP can occur.
• Dyskinetic cerebral palsy: Failure to treat newborn jaundice (excess bilirubin, or yellow pigment cell waste) can lead to brain damage known as kernicterus and dyskinetic CP. Neglecting to manage maternal or infant infections, both of which can contribute to oxygen deprivation or birth trauma, are other causes.
• Ataxic cerebral palsy: This type can result from untreated maternal infections like rubella or toxoplasmosis, which can interfere with infant brain development if not managed properly during pregnancy.

In many cases, timely medical intervention can prevent brain damage leading to the different types of cerebral palsy.

“When it comes to birth injuries, there is a standard of care that should be provided. So, when we have health care professionals who are not providing the necessary treatment and that results in either a mom or a baby being injured, that’s when we are concerned that medical malpractice may have occurred.”

– Andi Lowe, Registered Nurse and LawFirm.com case manager

Call (888) 726-9160 to speak with a labor and delivery nurse to find out if medical malpractice may have played a role in your child’s CP.

Treatment for Different Types of Cerebral Palsy

While the different types of cerebral palsy may share some symptoms, each case is unique and requires an individual treatment approach.

When developing a care plan, a team of medical professionals will look at the child’s symptoms, severity of brain damage, and other factors.

Common treatments for different cerebral palsy types include:

• Assistive technology devices to help with daily tasks
• Medications
• Mobility aids, like motorized wheelchairs
• Occupational therapy
• Orthotic devices, such as braces
• Physical therapy
• Speech therapy
• Surgery

To improve your child’s health outlook, it’s important that they start getting treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis of one of the cerebral palsy types.

Prompt treatment can help children with all types of cerebral palsy manage their symptoms and work toward living as independently as possible.

“Resilience is my identity, and I’m determined to surpass expectations. Today, I am thriving in my digital marketing career and just bought my own home.”

– Amie Kroessig, a LawFirm.com contributor living with cerebral palsy

Amie and the rest of the LawFirm.com team are here to support families raising a child with CP. Our registered nurses and case managers can help you explore options for cerebral palsy financial aid and take legal action if a medical mistake caused your child’s condition.

Get Help From a Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

If your child has been impacted by any of the cerebral palsy types, getting help can make all the difference in the world.

LawFirm.com is committed to helping families impacted by preventable birth injuries secure the legal, financial, and emotional support they need.

Our partner cerebral palsy lawyers:

• Can help families in all 50 states
• Have on-staff registered nurses to help navigate a diagnosis
• Never charge any upfront or hourly fees
• Have recovered over $962 million for clients impacted by birth injuries

If you think an error during childbirth caused your child’s cerebral palsy, speaking with an experienced lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and figure out your next steps.

Call (888) 726-9160 right now or fill out our contact form to see if we can connect you with the help you deserve.