Types of Cerebral Palsy
Each type of cerebral palsy describes which part of the brain was affected, how a child moves, how much muscle tone they have, and which parts of the brain and body are involved. Learn what each type means and how it may affect your child's daily life.
What Are the Different Types of Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is often grouped into a few different types. These include spastic, dyskinetic, ataxic, hypotonic, and mixed. Each type has its own unique symptoms and movement difficulties depending on which part of the brain was damaged.
Types of Cerebral Palsy: Quick Facts
- Spastic: Stiff muscles, limited range of motion, scissoring gait
- Dyskinetic: Involuntary twisting/jerking movements, fluctuating tone, speech/swallowing challenges
- Ataxic: Shaky movements, poor balance, coordination difficulty
- Hypotonic: Floppy muscle tone, limp posture, poor muscle strength and endurance
- Mixed: Combination of patterns (often spastic + dyskinetic)
Spastic Cerebral Palsy
Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type and is often paired with stiff, tight muscles and awkward movements.
Spastic cerebral palsy occurs when there is damage to the motor cortex or the pyramidal tracts, the parts of the brain responsible for sending voluntary movement signals to the muscles.
This damage causes the brain to send incorrect or excessive signals, resulting in increased muscle tone (spasticity). The severity and location of the spasticity depend on how much and which part of the brain is damaged.
Common symptoms of spastic cerebral palsy include:
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Muscles that are constantly tight or contracted
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Difficulty with smooth, coordinated movements
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Limited range of motion in joints
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Walking with a scissoring gait (legs cross)
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Delays in reaching developmental milestones like crawling or walking
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Pain or joint deformities caused by chronic muscle tension
Challenges of spastic cerebral palsy can include:
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A child may struggle to open their hand when reaching for a toy
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Walking up stairs may require holding onto both railings due to leg stiffness
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They may need ankle braces or walkers for stability
Spastic cerebral palsy symptoms range from mild to severe. Some children can walk independently, while others may need assistive devices or surgery. Early intervention and physical therapy can make a big difference in long-term outcomes for children with spastic cerebral palsy.
Dyskinetic (Athetoid) Cerebral Palsy
Dyskinetic (athetoid) cerebral palsy involves uncontrolled, involuntary movements, especially in the arms, legs, and face. This type is caused by damage to the basal ganglia, which is the part of the brain that helps regulate voluntary motor control and posture.
Depending on whether the damage affects how muscles are activated or suppressed, a child may appear to be constantly in motion or unable to maintain steady postures. The muscle tone often fluctuates randomly and can sometimes either be too floppy or too stiff, making it hard to sit, stand, or speak clearly.
Common symptoms of dyskinetic cerebral palsy include:
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Twisting, writhing, or jerking movements (athetoid or choreoathetoid)
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Muscle tone that changes frequently throughout the day
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Difficulty holding onto objects due to hand and arm instability
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Facial grimacing, excessive drooling, or trouble swallowing
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Trouble speaking due to uncontrolled tongue or mouth movements
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Movements that get worse with stress, excitement, or fatigue
Examples of challenges of dyskinetic cerebral palsy:
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A child’s arms may wave uncontrollably while trying to feed themselves
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Their mouth muscles may make speech slurred or hard to understand
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Simple tasks like holding a crayon can take repeated attempts
Dyskinetic cerebral palsy can be especially frustrating for children because their minds may be sharp, but their bodies don’t cooperate. Communication devices and occupational therapy can be very helpful, though more severe cases may require ongoing care and support.
Ataxic Cerebral Palsy
Ataxic cerebral palsy is one of the least common types of cerebral palsy and causes problems with balance, depth perception, and coordination. This type is caused by damage to the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls fine motor movement and balance.
Because of this damage, children with ataxic cerebral palsy might appear shaky or unsteady, especially during tasks that require precision. Speech and hand movements are also often slow, slurred, or poorly controlled.
Common symptoms of ataxic cerebral palsy include:
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Shaky or unstable movements when walking or reaching
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Difficulty with tasks requiring fine motor control (writing, using utensils)
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Poor coordination and balance
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Wide-based, unsteady gait
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Speech that is slow and breathy or slurred
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Difficulty with eye-hand coordination and quick changes in movement
Examples of challenges of ataxic cerebral palsy:
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A child may fall frequently while walking across uneven surfaces
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They may struggle to zip up a jacket or write their name on a piece of paper
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Carrying a cup without it spilling can be very difficult
Ataxic cerebral palsy is typically less severe than other types, but it can still affect daily function and confidence. Regular physical and occupational therapy can build coordination over time, and many children make significant progress with ongoing support.
Hypotonic Cerebral Palsy
Hypotonic cerebral palsy is an extremely rare form that causes low muscle tone, making children appear floppy, weak, or overly flexible. This type often results from more diffuse or poorly localized brain damage, sometimes affecting both the cerebellum and motor pathways.
Because the muscles receive weak or inconsistent signals from the brain, a child may struggle to hold up their head, sit upright, or initiate movements. Unlike other forms of cerebral palsy, movements are not jerky or involuntary but just slower, softer, and take more effort.
Common symptoms of hypotonic cerebral palsy include:
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Limp posture and weak head or neck control in infants
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Poor muscle strength and endurance
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Difficulty chewing, sucking, or swallowing
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Joints that are overly flexible (hypermobile)
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Breathing or speech that lacks strength or control
Challenges of hypotonic cerebral palsy can include:
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A baby may flop over when they're lifted up under the arms
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Older children may get tired quickly during physical activity
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They may need trunk support to sit upright in a chair
Hypotonic cerebral palsy is often harder to identify early but can impact independence if it is not addressed. One of the first signs parents notice is that their baby looks and feels floppy. Recognizing hypotonia and starting treatment sooner if needed can make a huge impact on your child's daily life.
Note: Hypotonia is often described as a tone pattern in cerebral palsy rather than a stand-alone type. However, some symptoms of hypotonic cerebral palsy may even appear early before other features develop.
Can My Child Have More Than One Type of Cerebral Palsy?
Yes. Many children don't fit perfectly into just one category. Cerebral palsy can affect more than one area of the brain that controls movement. If a child shows a combination of patterns like stiffness in the legs with involuntary movements in the arms or face, doctors may describe this as mixed cerebral palsy.
It's also very common for symptoms to look different as a child grows. Some babies may appear more floppy (low tone) early on and later develop spasticity as muscles tighten over time, especially during growth spurts. Your child's type may change after ongoing therapy and follow-up evaluations.
Mixed Cerebral Palsy
Mixed cerebral palsy includes symptoms from two or more types of cerebral palsy, most commonly spastic and dyskinetic.
This type happens when there are widespread or multiple areas of brain damage, such as injuries that affect both the motor cortex and basal ganglia.
Because more than one motor system is disrupted, children with mixed cerebral palsy can experience both stiffness and uncontrolled movements. This can make treating and diagnosing it more complex.
Common symptoms of mixed cerebral palsy include:
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Stiff legs combined with uncontrolled arm or facial movements
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Frequent changes in muscle tone throughout the body
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Speech and swallowing difficulties due to mixed tone in facial muscles
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Challenges with balance, posture, and movement planning
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Seizures or cognitive impairments in more severe cases
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Need for multiple therapies to manage overlapping symptoms
Examples of mixed cerebral palsy challenges:
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A child may use a wheelchair but also have sudden facial twitches
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They might speak clearly some days and slur words on others
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They may need multiple specialists (physical, occupational, and speech therapy) to manage mixed symptoms
Symptoms of mixed cerebral palsy can range from moderate to severe and affect each child differently. Since multiple systems of the body are involved, families often depend on a combination of different treatments, resources, and long-term planning to ensure their child is taken care of.
Types of Cerebral Palsy by Body Regions Affected
Cerebral palsy is also classified by the effects on different parts of the body depending on where the brain injury occurred. Terms like hemiplegia, diplegia, or quadriplegia describe which limbs or areas of the body are impacted and how much, depending on what part of the brain was damaged.
Monoplegia
Monoplegia typically affects just one arm or one leg. It’s often caused by a localized brain injury or mild form of hemiplegia.
Hemiplegia
Hemiplegia affects the arm and leg on the same side, usually from damage to one side of the brain. The arm is typically more impaired than the leg.
Diplegia
Diplegia involves muscle stiffness in both legs, while the arms are usually mildly affected or normal. This is common in children born prematurely with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) in the brain’s white matter.
Triplegia
Triplegia means three limbs are involved, usually both legs and one arm. It often results from a more extensive brain injury that affects one hemisphere more than the other.
Quadriplegia
Quadriplegia (or tetraplegia) is the most severe form, affecting all limbs, the torso, and sometimes facial muscles. It often stems from a global brain injury, such as birth asphyxia.
Double Hemiplegia
Double hemiplegia is a rare subtype where both sides of the body are affected, but not equally. It’s often mistaken for quadriplegia but has slightly more movement on one side.
How Is the Severity of Cerebral Palsy Classified?
To better understand a child’s abilities and needs, specialists often use a severity classification system called the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). This scale ranks how independently a child can move and function in daily life.
This system helps therapists tailor interventions based on the child’s current level of independence and monitor progress over time.
A child's movement capability by each level:
Cerebral Palsy Levels of Severity
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Level I: Walks without limitations; may have some mild balance or coordination issues.
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Level II: Walks with limitations, especially on uneven surfaces or stairs.
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Level III: Needs hand-held mobility aids; uses a wheelchair for longer distances.
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Level IV: Limited self-mobility even with aids; may use powered mobility devices.
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Level V: Severe mobility limitations; dependent on others for most physical movement.
How Do Doctors Determine Which Type My Child Has?
Doctors will look at your child's overall movement pattern over time, like how muscle tone behaves, how posture is held, and which areas of the body are most affected. The type also becomes easier to diagnose as certain skills like rolling, sitting, and walking develop over time.
Physical and Neurological Exams
A pediatric neurologist or developmental specialist will usually start by watching your child move and checking their:
- Muscle tone (stiff/spastic, fluctuating, shaky, or low tone)
- Reflexes (especially exaggerated reflexes or persistent primitive reflexes)
- Posture and symmetry (one side is stronger or tighter, scissoring legs, trunk control)
- Coordination and balance (unsteady gait, tremor, trouble with precise movements)
- Speech and swallowing control (common in dyskinetic cerebral palsy)
Brain Imaging to Support Diagnosis
Imaging does not diagnose the type of cerebral palsy by itself, but doctors often use MRI to look for signs of brain injury (such as white matter injuries) or abnormal development that match your child's symptoms.
Developmental History
Doctors may ask about your child's developmental history, such as:
Types of Cerebral Palsy 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: February 25, 2026
