Question
In the past few months, I’ve noticed something’s off with my baby. When they were born, they had a weak suck for feeding, and their development was slower than most children. Their eyes don’t follow objects, and they can’t sit up or stand. After a hospital check-up, the doctor said it was cerebral palsy. I want to know what the symptoms of pediatric cerebral palsy are?
Answer
The symptoms of cerebral palsy can be categorized into several types. One type is spastic cerebral palsy, which is mainly characterized by stiff limbs. Another type is dyskinetic cerebral palsy, involving involuntary movements of the limbs, head, and feet, as well as involuntary movements during purposeful movements, such as a “brown eyebrows” appearance on the face, difficulty in speaking and swallowing, and frequent drooling. There’s also ataxic cerebral palsy, characterized by weak limb muscles, inability to maintain body balance, unsteady gait, and incomplete fine motor movements such as those in the fingertips and nose. Additionally, there are less common simple ataxia types and ataxia associated with hand and foot movements. Children with this condition often cannot maintain a fixed posture; when standing, they must frequently adjust to maintain their standing position. They learn to walk later than normal children.