What is Cerebral Palsy? – A quick guide to understand your child’s diagnosis

Has your child been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy? It is possible you are hearing this term for the first time, or know something about it in parts.

Cerebral Palsy is a disorder of locomotion i.e. a disorder of locomotion and posture. It affects muscles, mobility, balance and posture. It is often associated with difficulties in learning, communication, eating, hearing and vision. There are four main types of CP, depending on the affected area of the brain:

• Spastic
• Dyskinetic
• Ataxic
• Mixed

Please read and download the Cerebral Palsy Factsheet shown above, to learn about the signs, symptoms, causes, therapies and help you may need to understand and care for your child’s health and needs.

Remember, with good management practices and family involvement children diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy can very much lead a happy and good life. You might want to know a little more about the condition here. Also, do check out this inspiring video of a young individual living with cerebral palsy.

Acknowledgements: Special thanks to Consultant Neuro-developmental Paediatrician, Dr Ajay Sharma who has offered expert advice and guidance in consolidating this information. We thank our volunteers Ms Hima Bindu & Ms Sailaja Tadimeti for the time and effort taken towards translating this content from English to Telugu.

Note: The early signs of Cerebral Palsy mentioned in the factsheet are only suggestive–they can be present in other situations as well. A full neurological examination is required for CP to be diagnosed.

If you have questions about Autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD, or other intellectual disabilities, or have concerns about developmental delays in a child, the Nayi Disha team is here to help. For any questions or queries, please contact our FREE Helpline at 844-844-8996. You can call or send us a message on WhatsApp. Our counsellors speak different languages including English, Hindi, Malayalam, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu, and Bengali.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that this factsheet on Cerebral Palsy is for information purposes only. Please consult a qualified health practitioner for safe management.