When talking about cerebral palsy, it is common to talk about the disorder without differentiating the form that is present. There are 4 different types of cerebral palsy that are the most common. While they are all caused by the same factors, each type of cerebral palsy causes a different set of symptoms and can influence a child’s abilities and outcomes.
Spastic cerebral palsy (aka spastic quadriplegia)
Spastic cerebral palsy is also known as spastic quadriplegia and is the most common form of CP. It is characterized by uncontrollable jerky movements and stiffness in the limbs due to increased muscle tone.
Dyskinetic CP (including athetoid, choreoathetoid, and dystonic)
This type of cerebral palsy causes difficulty controlling hand, arm, feet, and leg movements which results in problems with sitting and walking. The face and tongue may also be affected which can make it difficult to suck, talk, and swallow. The muscle tone of those with dyskinetic cerebral palsy can vary from too tight to too loose and can even change throughout the course of a day.
Ataxic CP
Ataxic CP causes difficulty with balancing and coordination. Those with ataxic cerebral palsy often have an unsteady gate and may have problems with fine motor skills such as writing.
Mixed CP
Many patients with cerebral palsy show symptoms from two or more types of CP. This is referred to as “mixed cerebral palsy.” The most common combination is spastic-dyskinetic. Your Baltimore cerebral palsy law firm can help you win the compensation you deserve if your child’s CP was caused by medical negligence.