What Type of Cerebral Palsy Does My Child Have?
Cerebral Palsy is a painful diagnosis to hear. It is also a medical condition that confuses parents and doctors alike. However, after thorough testing, a doctor should be able to tell you the “type” of Cerebral Palsy your child has. The classification depends on the severity of her limitations, as well as what parts of her body and brain are affected.
Below are the basic categories of Cerebral Palsy:
Spastic Cerebral Palsy
Spastic Cerebral Palsy is the most common diagnosis. If your child’s CP is “spastic,” her muscles are rigid and jerky, and she has difficulty getting around. There are three types of spastic Cerebral Palsy:
- Spastic diplegia — Your child’s leg and hip muscles are tight, and his legs cross at the knees, making it difficult to walk. This kind of movement is frequently referred to as “scissoring.”
- Spastic hemiplegia — Only one side of your child’s body is stiff. Her arms or hands might be more affected than her legs. On the affected side, her arm and leg may not develop normally. She may also require leg braces.
- Spastic quadriplegia — The severest of the three, spastic quadriplegia means that your child is more likely to have mental retardation if diagnosed as quadriplegia. His legs, arms, and body are affected. It will be difficult for him to walk and talk, and he may also experience seizures.
Athetoid Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy
Athetoid dyskinetic is the second most frequently diagnosed type of Cerebral Palsy. Your child will have normal intelligence, but her body will be totally affected by muscle problems. Her muscle tone can be weak or tight, and she might have trouble walking, sitting, or speaking clearly. She may also have trouble controlling her facial muscles and therefore drool.
Ataxic Cerebral Palsy
This is the least diagnosed type of Cerebral Palsy. Your child will have trouble tying his shoes, buttoning his shirt, cutting with scissors, and doing other tasks that require fine motor skills. He might walk with his feet farther apart than normal and have trouble with his balance and coordination. Your child may also suffer from “intention tremors,” a shaking that begins with a voluntary movement. For example, your child may reach for a toy, and then his hand and arm will start to shake. As he gets closer to the toy, the tremor worsens.
Hypotonic Cerebral Palsy
Unlike with other types of CP, you will notice that your baby has muscle control problems early in life. Her head seems floppy, and she will not be able to control it when sitting up. Her motor skills will be developmentally delayed.
It is suspected that this type of Cerebral Palsy is caused by brain damage or malformations that occur while a baby’s brain is still developing.
Mixed Cerebral Palsy
If your child does not “fit” into one of the above diagnoses, your doctor will consider him “mixed.” This is quite common.
Congenital Cerebral Palsy
If your child is diagnosed with congenital Cerebral Palsy, be aware that this is not a “type” of palsy, but rather it is a term meaning “birth defect.” In other words, your child’s doctor is saying that he developed Cerebral Palsy during development. It is not a condition that your child inherited from you or your husband or partner. And it is not caused by a medical error.
Erb’s Palsy
If any type of Cerebral Palsy can be attributed to a birthing accident, it is Erb’s palsy (brachial plexus palsy). According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke:
Although injuries can occur at any time, many brachial plexus injuries happen when a baby’s shoulders become impacted during delivery and the brachial plexus nerves stretch or tear.
If your baby has Erb’s palsy, he will have no muscle control in his arm; the arm will be limp and have no feeling.
Based on the nerve area that is affected, there are four types of Erb’s Palsy:
- Avulsion — the nerve completely separates from the spine.
- Rupture — the nerve is torn throughout but not from the spine.
- Praxis/stretch — the nerve is damaged but not torn and could heal on its own.
- Neuroma — scar tissue from an injury puts pressure on the nerve.
Whatever Type of Cerebral Palsy Your Child Has, Seek the Financial Support She May be Entitled to
Cerebral Palsy is an emotionally and financially devastating life long condition. Medical bills add up quickly and put strain on an already challenging situation. Over the years, your child’s long-term care will be expensive. Who will take care of your child when you are gone?
If your child has Cerebral Palsy because of a medical error, then you should not have to carry the burden alone.
Seek expert advice today. It’s the only way to know if your doctor and medical team did everything possible to keep you and your baby safe and healthy. If your doctor failed you and your baby in any way, you may be entitled to financial help.
Contact 4MYCHILD today and see if your child is eligible for Benefits4Life.
