Cerebral palsy

At Advocate Children’s Hospital, we’re dedicated to helping children with cerebral palsy. While there’s no cure yet for these muscle and movement challenges, the right care can help children live full, productive lives.

We offer the range of neurology expertise your family needs, first to rule out other conditions, then to create a tailored treatment plan. Our team brings together experts from a number of specialties including:

• Neurology
• Developmental pediatrics
• Neurosurgery
• Nutrition services
• Orthopedics
• Pulmonology
• Rehabilitation and development including physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy

What is cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy refers to a group of neurological disorders that affect body movement and muscle coordination. Children with cerebral palsy can have a harder time maintaining balance, walking, and standing or sitting upright. They may also shake and have a difficult time speaking, swallowing, hearing or seeing.

Most children with cerebral palsy have additional trouble moving because of stiff muscles, also called spasticity. Some may have intellectual challenges or other conditions such as autism, dystonia, epilepsy or a spinal condition.

Read about Libby's treatment for cerebral palsy.

What causes cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that is tied to problems with the cerebral cortex in the brain. Most cases result from the cerebral cortex not forming properly or getting damaged, ether in the womb or during birth. Potential reasons include stroke, going without oxygen too long or genetic changes, though it’s usually impossible to pinpoint a cause.

Risk for such cerebral cortex problems can increase for babies who are:

• Born too small or too early
• Conceived with reproductive help such as in vitro fertilization
• Hurt by complications during birth
• In the womb when their mother gets an infection
• Part of multiples such as twins

If untreated, jaundice can also damage newborns’ brains and lead to cerebral palsy. Occasionally, the condition is caused later in childhood from other brain damage, such as from an infection or injury.

Cerebral palsy symptoms and signs

Since brain damage or unusual development varies from person to person with cerebral palsy, so too do symptoms and their severity. Symptoms may range from mild to very challenging and can also change over time.

Some children shown signs of cerebral palsy as infants, while others experience symptoms later in childhood.

Early signs of cerebral palsy

Babies younger than 6 months with cerebral palsy may feel stiff or floppy. Older babies may reach certain milestones slowly or not in the typical way, including:

• Crawling
• Rolling over
• Sitting up
• Standing or walking
• Using both hands

Later signs of cerebral palsy

Some children may also develop:

• Breathing problems
• Delays in growth and development
• Difficulty going to the bathroom
• Floppy or stiff limbs
• Learning disorders
• Seizures
• Stomach and nutrition problems
• Spine conditions such as scoliosis

Cerebral palsy diagnosis

While most children with cerebral diagnosis receive a diagnosis by age 2, those with milder symptoms might not get noticed right away. Regardless of your child’s age, our experts run a full evaluation to rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms.

Children with cerebral palsy typically get diagnosed with a specific form, based on which muscles are affected and the symptoms experienced. Specialists from our neurology program thoroughly test muscles and motor control, as well as related functions such as vision and hearing.

In addition to a physical exam, we typically scan your child’s brain. Babies get an ultrasound because it’s less burdensome, while we ask older children to do an MRI or computed tomography (CT) scan.

Cerebral palsy treatment

Each child with cerebral palsy is different and has different needs, though earlier treatment is typically better. We customize care to make sure your child receives the tools and resources needed to have the fullest life possible. We may offer treatments such as:

• Medications, including Botox injections, to help with stiffness and pain
• Nutritional guidance to keep bones and body healthy
• Orthotics to help with balance and walking
• Therapy to adapt to everyday needs and improve muscle strength and control, speech, hearing, and social or behavioral development
• Surgery to improve mobility, relax muscles and correct spinal problems