The effects of cerebral palsy vary widely. Effects of cerebral palsy can range from severe (where the child may need full support with everyday need for life,) to mild (where a child may have only the slightest signs of cerebral palsy, such as tight calves).

Sometimes a diagnosis of cerebral palsy can be made almost immediately after birth. Babies born with severe cerebral palsy often have an irregular posture, and their limbs may be either very floppy or very stiff. Birth defects, such as spinal curvature, a small jawbone, or a small head may also indicate cerebral palsy.

Some babies born with cerebral palsy do not show obvious signs right away, and they may not get diagnosed with cerebral palsy until they are older, if at all. Common reasons for a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy during a child’s development are:

• Fits
• Muscle contractions and spasticity
• Difficulty with feeding
• Irregular pattern of breathing
• Delayed development of motor skills (reaching, sitting, rolling, crawling, walking)
• Speech problems
• Visual problems
• Hearing problems
• Muscle contractures that slowly get worse as the child grows