1. The baby is still in the womb
2. The birthing process takes place
3. Newborn baby
4. Children less than 5 years old

But most of the causes are unknown.

Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy

Symptoms usually appear before the child is 2 years old and in severe cases, can be detected as early as 3 months of age.

The symptoms vary, ranging from barely noticeable clumsiness to a severe degree, which causes hand and leg deformities to the point where the child is forced to use a wheelchair.

Cerebral Palsy is divided into 4 types:

1. Spastic Type (65% of all CP cases), the muscles become tense and weak. Common involvement can be divided into:-
• Quadriplegia (both arms and both legs)
• Diplegia (both legs)
• Hemiplegia (arms and legs on one side of the body)
2. Dyskinetic Type (Choreoathetoid, 10% of all CP cases), the muscles of the arms, legs and body spontaneously move slowly, writhing and uncontrollably; but it is also common to experience rough and convulsive movements. Emotional overflow makes the situation worse, and movement will disappear if the child sleeps.
3. The Ataxic type, (5% of all CP cases), consists of tremors, unsteady steps with both feet far apart, balance disorders that cause unsmooth movements of the legs and arms.
4. Mixed Type (20% of all CP cases), is a combination of the 2 types above, which is often found to be a combination of spastic and dyskinetic types.

Other disorders that are also commonly found among CP patients are:

• Intelligence below normal
• Seizures/epilepsy (especially in the spastic type)
• Disturbance of sucking or eating
• Irregular breathing
• Speech disorder
• Visual impairment
• Hearing impairment