Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
Cerebral palsy symptoms typically show up in early childhood and often involve difficulties with movement, muscle tone, posture, and coordination. Symptoms can vary from person to person depending on the type of CP as well as the location and severity of the brain damage. Learn to spot cerebral palsy symptoms so you can better understand your child's needs.
What Are The Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy?
Since no two people experience cerebral palsy in exactly the same way, symptoms can range from very mild to severe. Some children may only have a slight limp, while others might need mobility assistance along with lifelong support for doing daily activities. Some may even experience other symptoms such as speech difficulties or other cognitive issues.
Recognizing the signs of cerebral palsy early on can help parents determine if their child is just a "late bloomer" when it comes to certain developmental milestones or is potentially showing signs of CP.
If you think your child has cerebral palsy, don't wait. An earlier diagnosis can make a huge difference in the treatment and future quality of life for your child.
What Are The Common Early Signs of Cerebral Palsy?
Signs of cerebral palsy can often appear before the age of two and sometimes as early as just a few months old. These are usually the first things parents and doctors notice rather than the formal “symptoms” seen later.
Common early signs of cerebral palsy include:
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Delays in reaching motor milestones like rolling over, sitting, or crawling
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Very stiff or unusually floppy muscles
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Poor head control and issues with center of balance
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Consistently using only one side of the body over the other
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Persistent infant reflexes (such as Moro reflex) past the normal age
It's important to remember that some children with delayed development catch up over time, while children with cerebral palsy often have ongoing motor skill challenges.
With early diagnosis and treatment, many children with cerebral palsy can improve their strength, coordination, and independence, even though the brain injury itself does not go away.
Symptoms by Type of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is grouped into four main types based on the area of the brain that was damaged and the kind of movement challenges it causes. Each type has symptoms that reflect those differences in control, coordination, and muscle tone.
Spastic Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type of CP in nearly 80% of cases and is caused by damage to the motor cortex and pyramidal tracts of the brain, which control voluntary movement. It causes increased muscle tone, meaning muscles are stiff and tight, which makes movement difficult and often painful.
Symptoms and real-world challenges:
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Stiff or tight muscles (especially in the arms and legs), making it hard to stretch or bend joints
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Jerky or awkward movements when trying to stand, walk, or reach for objects
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Abnormal gait patterns, such as tiptoe walking or legs crossing each other like scissors (scissoring gait)
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Trouble with fine motor skills like holding a pencil, tying shoes, or using utensils
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Muscle fatigue or joint pain from straining to move against tightness
The way cerebral palsy affects movement depends on which part of the brain was injured. Doctors will often further classify the types of CP based on which areas of the body are most impacted.
Variations of Spastic Cerebral Palsy
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Hemiplegia: Affects one side of the body (e.g., only the right arm and leg)
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Diplegia: Mainly affects the legs, often causing trouble walking or climbing stairs
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Quadriplegia: Involves all four limbs, often along with speech and swallowing difficulties
Spastic cerebral palsy makes muscles tight and rigid, causing stiff movements that can make everyday tasks like walking or getting dressed challenging.
Dyskinetic (Athetoid) Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
Dyskinetic (or Athetoid) cerebral palsy is a rare form of CP occurring in only about 2.5% of cases. This type results from damage to the basal ganglia and cerebellum, the part of the brain that helps regulate coordination and muscle control. It causes involuntary movements that can be slow and twisting or quick and jerky. Muscle tone often fluctuates between being too tight and too loose.
Symptoms and real-world challenges:
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Uncontrolled, unpredictable movements in the face, arms, hands, and legs
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Fluctuating muscle tone, which makes it hard to hold a stable posture or stay balanced when upright
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Facial grimacing or involuntary tongue movements, interfering with eating or speaking
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Difficulty grasping or holding objects due to constant muscle shifts
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Speech delays or trouble forming words clearly (dysarthria)
Dyskinetic (Athetoid) cerebral palsy causes involuntary, fluctuating movements that can make everyday tasks like feeding, talking, and using hands frustrating and inconsistent.
Hypotonic Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
Hypotonic cerebral palsy is less common and involves low muscle tone (hypotonia), often due to a diffuse brain injury. Children with hypotonic CP tend to appear floppy and may struggle to hold their head or limbs upright which is why this type is sometimes referred to as "floppy baby syndrome".
Movements are usually slow and weak, and coordination takes extra effort. This type can appear early in infancy when the baby feels unusually limp and soft.
Symptoms and real-world challenges:
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Delays in sitting, crawling, or walking when other children typically achieve milestones
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Poor head and neck control, especially noticeable during tummy time or when picked up
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Weak trunk and core strength, making it difficult to sit or maintain posture without support
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Trouble sucking, swallowing, or breathing deeply due to low muscle tone in facial, jaw, and throat muscles
Hypotonic cerebral palsy is generally characterized by low muscle tone, resulting in a floppy or loose appearance and delayed motor development. Children with this type may struggle with posture, coordination, and muscle control and may need extra support for daily tasks like sitting, eating, or even speaking.
Ataxic Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
Ataxic cerebral palsy is the rarest form of CP and results from damage to the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance and coordination. It leads to shaky or unsteady movements and affects depth perception and timing.
Symptoms and real-world challenges:
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Shaky hands or limbs, especially during reaching or purposeful movement (e.g., grabbing a cup)
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Poor balance, often causing wide-legged, unsteady walking, and challenges standing still
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Difficulty with fine motor tasks, like writing, drawing, or buttoning a shirt
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Tremors or a shaky voice, especially when trying to speak clearly
Ataxic cerebral palsy affects balance and coordination, which makes precise or steady movements difficult, especially during activities that require fine control.
Mixed Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
Mixed cerebral palsy occurs when multiple areas of the brain are damaged, leading to symptoms of more than one type of CP. The most common mix is spastic and dyskinetic (Athetoid).
Symptoms and real-world challenges:
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Combination of stiffness and involuntary movements, often making mobility and coordination more complicated
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Varying muscle tone, which changes how the body responds from one moment to the next
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Speech and swallowing difficulties, often from both tight muscles and involuntary facial movements
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Challenges with both gross and fine motor skills, such as walking steadily and holding small objects with precision
Mixed cerebral palsy combines symptoms from multiple types, often leading to more complex and unpredictable movement difficulties that change day by day.
Cerebral Palsy Symptoms by Severity
The severity of cerebral palsy symptoms can range widely and differ for each child. Some children have very mild changes in their balance or coordination, while others need full assistance with mobility and daily activities:
Mild Cerebral Palsy: A child may be able to walk independently but will seem a bit clumsy, tire easily, or have trouble with tasks like running, jumping, handwriting, or using utensils. Symptoms are more noticeable when they're compared to siblings or classmates their age.
Moderate Cerebral Palsy: A child may need to use braces, a walker, or other mobility aids for getting around. Muscle stiffness or involuntary movements are more obvious, and they may need extra time and support to get dressed, take a bath, or participate in sports or playground activities.
Severe Cerebral Palsy: Children with severe cerebral palsy have very limited voluntary movement and rely on a wheelchair or other equipment for mobility. They may need help with almost all daily tasks, including feeding, communication, personal care, and often require a coordinated care team.
Note: Even within the same type of cerebral palsy, symptoms differ from child to child. Some children only have motor challenges, while others also have co-occurring conditions like epilepsy (seizures), vision or hearing problems, or learning differences.
Cerebral Palsy Symptoms by Age
Cerebral palsy is non-progressive, which means the brain injury itself does not get worse over time. However, symptoms can become more noticeable or change as a child grows, learns new skills, and faces higher physical demands.
Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy in Babies (0-12 Months)
In infancy, the earliest signs of cerebral palsy usually involve delays in basic motor milestones and unusual posture or muscle tone. Parents might notice that something feels "different" during daily care, like feeding, changing, or holding their baby.
- Very stiff or floppy muscles when picked up or laid down
- Poor head control or difficulty lifting the head during tummy time
- Delays in rolling over, sitting, or reaching for toys
- Fists that stay closed tightly or legs that scissor (cross) when held
- Favoring one side of the body (only reaching with one hand, keeping the other fisted or still)
- Feeding challenges such as trouble sucking, swallowing, or frequent coughing while feeding
Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy in Toddlers (1-3 Years)
Symptoms of cerebral palsy in toddlers become more visible as they begin to stand, walk, and explore. Parents may notice problems with balance, coordination, or how their child uses their arms and legs.
- Not walking by 18-24 months, or walking on their tiptoes or with a very stiff gait
- Dragging one leg, limping, or holding an arm close to the body while walking
- Frequently falling or having a hard time balancing when standing or climbing
- Primitive reflexes that don't go away after infancy
- Delays in using both hands together at the same time for play, feeding, or stacking blocks
- Early speech delays or difficulty coordinating mouth movements for words and sounds
Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy in Children and Teens (4+ Years)
In older children and teens, symptoms may show up as difficulty keeping up with school, physical activities, or self-care tasks. Growth spurts can also make tight muscles and joint problems more noticeable.
- Muscle stiffness that gets worse with growth (tight hamstrings, heel cords, or hip muscles)
- Joint contractures, scoliosis, or hip dislocation from long-term muscle imbalance
- Fatigue, pain, or cramping while walking, playing sports, or during longer school days
- Ongoing challenges with handwriting, tying shoes, buttoning clothes, or using utensils
- Speech that is hard to understand, drooling, or trouble with breathing and talking
- Emotional or social difficulties related to pain, fatigue, or feeling "different" from their peers
Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy in Adults
Adults living with cerebral palsy sometimes find that their motor symptoms feel different than they did in childhood. Even though the brain injury does not progress, years of compensating movements can lead to wear and tear on certain joints and muscles.
- Increased stiffness, muscle tightness, or spasticity, especially after long days or periods of inactivity
- Joint pain, arthritis, or back pain caused by abnormal gait or posture
- Greater fatigue with walking or working, and needing to use mobility aids more frequently
- New challenges with balance, falls, or safely going up and down stairs and navigating uneven surfaces
Secondary Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy mainly affects movement, posture, and muscle tone, but some children also develop additional (“secondary”) health challenges over time. These are more common in children with more severe motor impairment, but they do not affect every child with cerebral palsy.
Physical Secondary Symptoms
- Breathing difficulties or recurrent respiratory infections
- Frequent bone fractures or low bone density from limited weight-bearing (standing, walking, etc)
- Gastrointestinal issues such as acid reflux, feeding difficulties, or poor weight gain
- Seizures or epilepsy
- Scoliosis (curving of the spine)
- Joint contractures (permanently shortened muscles and tendons)
- Constipation or irregular bowel movements
- Urinary incontinence (trouble with bladder control)
Cognitive, Emotional, and Sensory Symptoms
Some children with cerebral palsy also have challenges that affect learning, behavior, or how they process information from the world around them. These symptoms can vary widely and do not necessarily reflect a child’s true intelligence or potential.
- Attention or behavior challenges, including ADHD-like symptoms
- Learning difficulties or memory problems
- Difficulty regulating emotions, anxiety, or mood changes
- Challenges with problem-solving skills
- Autism spectrum disorder or social communication differences
- Vision or hearing impairments
- Dysarthria (speech and language difficulties related to muscle control)
It’s important to monitor your child’s development as a whole, including their movement, learning, behavior, sleep, and communication. If you notice new concerns or changes, speak to your child’s care team so they can screen for associated conditions and connect you with the right supports as early as possible.
Quick fact: Many children with cerebral palsy also have other conditions such as epilepsy or learning differences, but with an early diagnosis and a coordinated care plan, they can still make progress and participate more fully in daily life.
Do Cerebral Palsy Symptoms Get Worse Over Time?
One of the most common and most misunderstood questions about cerebral palsy is whether symptoms will get worse. CP is non-progressive, meaning it does not get worse over time.
However, the certain effects that come from the brain injury can change as the child grows. This is especially true during growth spurts, puberty, or when new physical demands are introduced.
Things that may change over time:
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Increased muscle tightness with growth
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Development of joint problems (contractures, hip dislocation)
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Fatigue or overuse injuries from compensating movements
That’s why ongoing therapy, stretching, and adaptive equipment often need to be adjusted throughout childhood. Staying ahead of these changes helps maintain mobility and comfort.
When Should You Talk to a Doctor?
If you’re noticing signs or symptoms that concern you, now is the time to act. Early identification can lead to earlier diagnosis and access to vital support services. Whether it’s physical therapy, speech therapy, or an evaluation by a neurologist, getting help sooner can greatly improve your child’s quality of life with the right care in place.
Red flags to look out for:
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No sitting by 9 months
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No crawling by 12 months
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Toe-walking past age 2
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Frequent stiffness or floppiness
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One-sided movement (e.g., always using one hand)
Bringing notes, videos, or milestone logs to your appointment can help doctors see what you’re seeing.
Getting early referrals for developmental screenings can also make a big difference, even before a formal diagnosis is given. Don't wait to get the help your child needs.
Cerebral Palsy Symptoms FAQs
Written and Medically Reviewed by:
Cerebral Palsy Hub Team
Cerebral Palsy Hub was founded to help support children and their families with cerebral palsy and to create a safe space for those affected. We strive to provide the most accurate, up-to-date information, and tools to help give your child the life they deserve.
Last Updated: January 11, 2026
