Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy in Children

Cerebral palsy is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects children's motor abilities and postural control, mainly caused by brain damage occurring before birth, during delivery, or in early childhood. The symptoms of cerebral palsy are varied, primarily manifesting as multiple developmental abnormalities and functional impairments. Specifically, these can be summarized as follows:

1. Motor dysfunction: This is the most obvious characteristic of cerebral palsy,表现为abnormal muscle tone such as hypertonia or hypotonia, uncoordinated movements, stiff or unstable body posture.

2. Delayed motor development: Children show significant delays in motor milestones compared to typically developing children, such as inability to reach for objects, roll over, sit up, or walk. Generally, if a child is still unable to reach for objects at 4-5 months of age, it may indicate intellectual disability or cerebral palsy.

3. Impaired intellectual development: Symptoms include delayed responses, no reaction to their name being called, lack of smiling or delayed smiling, and some children with cerebral palsy may have cognitive impairments.

4. Abnormal posture and head control: Examples include abnormal head circumference, head instability, and body twisting, which may be signs of brain injury.

5. Language and communication difficulties: Many children with cerebral palsy experience symptoms such as unclear speech, comprehension difficulties, or complete absence of speech.

5. Vision and hearing problems: Some children with cerebral palsy may have visual or hearing impairments.

The severity of cerebral palsy symptoms varies among individuals and symptoms may improve with age and treatment. Early diagnosis and comprehensive rehabilitation therapy are beneficial for improving the quality of life for children with cerebral palsy.