Patient's question:
The baby is almost one year old and still cannot talk or walk. When the baby was a few months old, it was noticed that the baby was different from others. The baby doesn't smile much. When nursing, the baby doesn't seem to struggle much. The baby's gaze is very vacant. The head is always tilted backward. When checked at the hospital, the doctor said it was cerebral palsy. What are the early symptoms of infantile cerebral palsy?Doctor's answer:
Hello. Symptoms of cerebral palsy include:(1) Infants are often quiet, cry little, and have weak cries. They may be overly calm or, alternatively, cry excessively, be easily irritable, easily startled, or experience frequent muscle twitches.
(2) Difficulty with feeding after birth, such as weak sucking, swallowing difficulties, or poor oral closure.
(3) Poor coordination, asymmetry, and a lack of voluntary movements.
(4) Frequent muscle tone abnormalities, as well as abnormal postures and movement patterns.
(5) Delayed motor development. For example:
- At 3–4 months, infants cannot hold their heads up while in a prone position;
- After 4 months, they still cannot use their forearms to support weight;
- Their hands are often clenched into fists and cannot be extended into the mouth for sucking;
- At 6–7 months, they still cannot roll over or sit independently for short periods;
- When holding them upright, they may stand on their toes or have bent legs that cannot bear weight, or their lower limbs may be overly straight or crossed.