Types of Cerebral Palsy

Types of cerebral palsy are based on classifications by movement and by the number of limbs affected. There are four main types of cerebral palsy that are classified by movement:

ATAXIC CEREBRAL PALSY
ATHETOID CEREBRAL PALSY
SPASTIC CEREBRAL PALSY
MIXED CEREBRAL PALSY

Types of cerebral palsy are also identified by the number of limbs affected:
Monoplegia, or affecting one limb, often an arm
Diplegia, or affecting two limbs, often both legs
Hemiplegia, or affecting one side of the body
Triplegia, or affecting three limbs
Quadriplegia, or affecting all four limbs of the body

When describing a type of cerebral palsy, the movement classification and limbs affected are combined to tell which movement disorder is occurring along with what part of the body the movement disorder affects.

For example: ff a child has spastic diplegia cerebral palsy, the condition would be characterized by stiff and tight muscles, with increased resistance to stretching and affecting two limbs (often the legs).

Ataxic Cerebral Palsy

In a child with Ataxic Cerebral Palsy, damage to the spinal cord and cerebellum creates problems with the ability to balance, resulting in unsteady and unstable movement. Children and individuals with ataxic cerebral palsy will walk with a wide gait, and their feet far apart to increase stability.

Uncontrollable motor skills become very noticeable when a child with ataxic cerebral palsy attempts to use fine motor skills, such as reaching for an object, turning a page in a book, writing a sentence, or using scissors. Trembling occurs the closer the child comes to the object, a result of the unsteadiness and lack of muscle control from brain injury.

For more information on Ataxic Cerebral Palsy, please visit our section on Ataxic Cerebral Palsy.

Does your child suffer from symptoms of ataxic cerebral palsy? Contact the Rasansky Law Firm online, or call our offices anytime at 1-800-Attorney (1-800-288-6763) to discuss your child's situation with our experienced cerebral palsy attorneys. In the complimentary consultation, our attorneys will review your experiences and situation and provide you information regarding your legal rights, options, and responsibilities.

Athetoid Cerebral Palsy

Athetoid Cerebral Palsy is commonly characterized by muscles transitioning from loose to tense when muscle tone is either too high or low. Athetoid cerebral palsy often affects the hands, feet, arms, and legs, and can occur mixed with other types of Cerebral Palsy.

Facial muscles are usually affected in athetoid cerebral palsy, resulting in involuntary grimaces and tongue thrusts which can lead to swallowing, drooling, and speech problems. Problems with the coordination of the muscles involved in speech is referred to as dysarthia.

Athetoid cerebral palsy is thought to be caused by severe trauma to the newborns cerebellum or basil ganglia causing children to have poor muscle development in the face, arms and torso, as well as neurological problems affecting smooth, coordinated bodily movement and posture.

For more information, please visit our section on Athetoid Cerebral Palsy.

Does your child suffer from symptoms of athetoid cerebral palsy? Contact the Rasansky Law Firm online, or call our offices anytime at 1-800-Attorney (1-800-288-6763) to discuss your child's situation with our experienced cerebral palsy attorneys. In the complimentary consultation, our attorneys will review your experiences and situation and provide you information regarding your legal rights, options, and responsibilities.

Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Spastic Cerebral Palsy, also known as Spastic Diplegia, is the most common form of cerebral palsy and is characterized by tight, stiff muscles with an increased resistance to stretching.

A child with spastic cerebral palsy has muscle groups limiting the amount and range of movement. These children often have difficulty in moving from one position to another, and may have a difficult time holding on to and letting go of objects.

For more information, please visit our section on Spastic Cerebral Palsy.

Does your child suffer from symptoms of spastic cerebral palsy? Contact the Rasansky Law Firm online, or call our offices anytime at 1-800-Attorney (1-800-288-6763) to discuss your child's situation with our experienced cerebral palsy attorneys. In the complimentary consultation, our attorneys will review your experiences and situation and provide you information regarding your legal rights, options, and responsibilities.

Mixed Cerebral Palsy

Children with Mixed Cerebral Palsy have symptoms of more than one type of cerebral palsy. Approximately 10% of children with cerebral palsy have Mixed Cerebral Palsy.

Most commonly, mixed cerebral palsy is a blend of spastic cerebral palsy and athetoid cerebral palsy. This blend results in tight, spastic muslces along with involuntary movements or reflexes.

For more information, please visit our section on Mixed Cerebral Palsy.

Does your child suffer from symptoms of mixed cerebral palsy? Contact the Rasansky Law Firm online, or call our offices anytime at 1-800-Attorney (1-800-288-6763) to discuss your child's situation with our experienced cerebral palsy attorneys. In the complimentary consultation, our attorneys will review your experiences and situation and provide you information regarding your legal rights, options, and responsibilities.