Question
I recently heard that a colleague’s baby has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. The baby is unable to sit up independently, cannot crawl, and cannot walk even with support. What are the typical symptoms of cerebral palsy in infants?
Answer
Symptoms of cerebral palsy that appear during infancy are usually accompanied by abnormal posture and insufficient motor development. Although brain damage or abnormal brain development is non-progressive, the clinical manifestations of brain damage often change with the repair and development of the brain damage. For example, severe neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy typically leads to hypotonia in early infants, which gradually transforms into hypertonia. Balance disorders can affect an infant’s ability to sit and even stand. Additionally, secondary changes such as joint contractures and spinal deformities may also develop gradually. These symptoms may be associated with…