Things to Know about Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability in childhood, and children with CP and their families need support. Learn more about CP and what signs to look for in young children.

1. Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move and maintain balance and posture.
2. CP is the most common motor disability of childhood. About 1 in 323 children have been identified with CP according to estimates from CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network.
3. CP is more common among boys than girls, and more common among black children than among white children.
4. Most (about 77%) children with CP have spastic CP. This means that their muscles are stiff, and as a result, their movements can be awkward.
5. Over half (about 58%) of children with CP can walk independently.
6. 

   About 1 in 10 children identified with CP walk using a hand-held mobility device.
6. Many children with CP have one or more additional conditions or diseases along with their CP, also known as co-occurring conditions. For example, over 4 in 10 children with CP also have epilepsy and a little less than 1 in 10 have autism spectrum disorder.
7. Most CP is related to brain damage that happened before or during birth and is called congenital CP. Some of the factors that increase the risk for congenital CP are
   • Being born too small
   • Being born too early
   • Being born a twin or other multiple birth
   • Being conceived by in vitro fertilization or other assisted reproductive technology
   • Having a mother who had an infection during pregnancy
   • Having kernicterus (a type of brain damage that can happen when severe newborn jaundice goes untreated)
   • Having complications during birth
8. A small percentage of CP is caused by brain damage that happens more than 28 days after birth. This is called acquired CP. Some factors that increase the risk for acquired CP are
   • Having a brain infection, such as meningitis
   • Suffering a serious head injury
9. The specific cause of most cases of CP is unknown.
10. CP is typically diagnosed during the first or second year after birth. If a child's symptoms are mild, it is sometimes difficult to make a diagnosis until the child is a few years older.
11. With the appropriate services and support, children and adults with CP can stay well, active, and a part of the community. Read the stories of children, adults, and families living with CP.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published the information in this post, for more on Cerebral Palsy and much more, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/