What are the symptoms of cerebral palsy in children?

Mar 14, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Disease description:

My friend's son has difficulty speaking clearly, and we are unsure whether this might be cerebral palsy. Could you please tell us, Doctor, what are the symptoms of cerebral palsy in children?

Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng

The symptoms of cerebral palsy in children include motor dysfunction, postural abnormalities, language disorders, visual and auditory impairments, and oral-facial functional disorders.

1. Motor dysfunction: Children with cerebral palsy often exhibit poor motor control, such as clumsy limb movements, difficulty grasping objects, and impaired walking ability.

2. Postural abnormalities: Children with cerebral palsy frequently display abnormal postures, such as inability to hold the head upright or a tendency to tilt the head to one side. They may also exhibit swaying movements forwards and backwards or side to side, whether moving or at rest.

3. Language disorders: The language abilities of children with cerebral palsy are often affected to varying degrees, potentially resulting in difficulties with verbal expression, unclear speech, or the ability to understand others' speech without being able to speak themselves.

4. Visual and auditory impairments: Some children with cerebral palsy may have visual or hearing impairments, primarily due to brain damage affecting the visual and auditory centers or related neural pathways.

5. Oral-facial functional disorders: Children with cerebral palsy may experience abnormal muscle tone and coordination in the facial muscles, as well as those of the mouth and tongue, leading to difficulties with chewing and swallowing, poor oral closure, and drooling.

Parents should closely monitor their child's growth and development. If any of the above symptoms are observed, the child should be taken to the hospital promptly for examination and diagnosis to enable early intervention and treatment.