Last Updated 8/2008 - United Cerebral Palsy of Arkansas
UCP of Arkansas is a 501 (c)(3) Non Profit Organization
9720 North Rodney Parham Rd. Little Rock, Arkansas (501) 224-6067 FAX (501) 227-5591
Cerebral Palsy Organization
What is Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy History
Effects of Cerebral Palsy
Causes of Cerebral Palsy
Types of Cerebral Palsy
Early Signs of Cerebral Palsy
How is Cerebral Palsy Diagnosed
How many people have Cerebral Palsy
Can Cerebral Palsy be prevented
Can Cerebral Palsy be treated
Research being done on Cerebral Palsy
Early signs of cerebral palsy usually appear before 18 months of age, and parents are often the first to suspect that their infant is not developing motor skills normally. Infants with cerebral palsy are frequently slow to reach developmental milestones, such as learning to roll over, sit, crawl, smile, or walk. This is called developmental delay.
Some affected children have abnormal muscle tone. Decreased muscle tone is called hypotonia; the baby may seem flaccid and relaxed, even floppy. Increased muscle tone is called hypertonia, and the baby may seem stiff or rigid. In some cases, the baby has an early period of hypotonia that progresses to hypertonia after the first 2 to 3 months of life. Affected children may also have unusual posture or favor one side of their body.
Parents who are concerned about their baby's development for any reason should contact their physician, who can help distinguish normal variation in development from a developmental disorder.