Cerebral palsy (
CP) is a group of permanent
movement disorders that appear in early childhood. Signs and symptoms vary between people. Often, symptoms include poor coordination,
stiff muscles, weak muscles, and
tremors. There may be problems with
sensation,
vision,
hearing,
swallowing, and
speaking. Often babies with cerebral palsy do not roll over, sit, crawl, or walk as early as other children their age. Difficulty with the ability to
think or reason and
seizures each occurs in about one third of people with CP. While the symptoms may get more noticeable over the first few years of life, the underlying problems do not worsen over time.