Cerebral palsy (CP) is a disorder that affects muscle tone, movement, and motor skills.

Cerebral palsy is one of the most common congenital (existing before birth or at birth) disorders of childhood. About 65,000 children and adults of all ages in Canada have the condition.

There are three types of Cerebral Palsy:

• spastic cerebral palsy — causes stiffness and movement difficulties
• athetoid cerebral palsy — leads to involuntary and uncontrolled movements
• ataxic cerebral palsy — causes a disturbed sense of balance and depth perception

Cerebral palsy affects muscle control and coordination, so even simple movements, like standing still, are difficult. Other vital functions that also involve motor skills and muscles, such as breathing, bladder and bowel control, eating, and learning — may also be affected when a child has CP. Cerebral palsy does not get worse over time.

Cerebral palsy is a disorder that affects muscle tone, movement, and motor skills (the ability to move in a coordinated and purposeful way). Cerebral palsy can also lead to other health issues, including vision, hearing, and speech problems, and learning disabilities.

How Cerebral Palsy Affects Development

Kids with CP have varying degrees of physical disability. Some have only mild impairment, while others are severely affected.

Associated medical problems may include visual impairment or blindness, hearing loss, food aspiration (the sucking of food or fluid into the lungs), gastroesophageal reflux (spitting up), speech problems, drooling, tooth decay, sleep disorders, osteoporosis (weak, brittle bones), and behavior problems.

Seizures, speech and communication problems, and mental retardation are also common among kids with the severe form of CP. Many have problems that may require ongoing therapy and devices such as braces or wheelchairs.