Types Of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy can be classified based on the cause, the severity of the condition, or the part of the body it impacts. Detailed below is a basic overview of the many types of cerebral palsy and how each version impacts patients:

Spastic

According to the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring CP Network, 77.4 of children with cerebral palsy have the spastic version. A form of hypertonia (excess muscle tone), spastic CP is characterized by sudden, jerky motions, as well as stiffness and limited range of mobility of the muscles and joints.

Dyskinetic

A common subset of cerebral palsy sometimes referred to as athetoid, dyskinetic CP is marked by involuntary movements, which become more obvious when the individual actively attempts to move. The disorder occurs in response to damage of the basal ganglia during or shortly after childbirth. Children with dyskinetic CP may either have hypertonia (excessive muscle tone) or hypotonia (low muscle tone causing body floppiness). This inconsistency in muscle tone is responsible for the involuntary movements that characterize dyskinetic CP.

Ataxic

Commonly associated with challenges balance and coordination challenges, ataxic CP is seen in between five and ten percent of all CP patients. Ataxia results from cerebellum damage, which may occur due to an infection in the womb or head trauma during birth. Patients with ataxic CP experience tremors while tying their shoes, eating with a fork and knife, or conducting other precise movements. They typically struggle to walk on their own and may develop an unsteady gait. Other signs of ataxia include speech impairments and slow eye movements.

Mixed Cerebral Palsy

Most CP diagnoses can be classified as spastic, ataxic, or dykinetic, but some individuals may demonstrate symptoms from several forms of CP. If this occurs, the patient may have suffered multiple brain injuries prior to or during childbirth. The most common combination is spastic and athetoid CP.

The Role of Location

Cerebral palsy can be further classified based on where the majority of symptoms occur. Impairment may be limited to a single limb or experienced throughout the entire body.

  • Monoplegia — A single arm or leg is impacted. This type of CP is very mild, but also very rare.
  • Diplegia — Sometimes referred to as paraplegia, diplegia occurs when CP symptoms affect both legs.
  • Hemiplegia — A one-sided manifestation of diplegia, hemiplegia involves both the leg and arm on one side of the body. The arm is typically impacted more severely than the leg.
  • Triplegia — This type of CP may affect two arms and one leg, or two legs and one arm. As with hemiplegia, the arm or arms are more severely affected.
  • Quadriplegia — In addition to affecting all arms and legs, this type of CP also impacts the trunk, windpipe, tongue, and mouth, making it difficult for sufferers to talk or eat.

Proper CP classification is key to successful intervention. Consult physicians promptly upon observing any of the symptoms outlined above.