If you or your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, or a diagnosis is being considered, it can feel uncertain at first. While cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition, there are many effective therapies and supports available to help manage symptoms and support your child’s development and participation in everyday life.

In Australia, approximately 34,000 people live with cerebral palsy, and each person’s experience is unique. Understanding the condition is an important first step in knowing what support and options are available to you and your family.

Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term for a group of disorders that affect movement, posture and coordination due to damage to the developing brain. While it is a lifelong physical disability, the way it presents in you or your child can change over time.

Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the brain that occurs early in life, most often during pregnancy, around the time of birth, or shortly after birth (typically within the first month). In some cases, babies may acquire cerebral palsy after birth, most commonly due to events such as stroke or serious illness.

In many cases, the exact cause is not known. However, certain factors can increase the likelihood, including premature birth, multiple births (such as twins or triplets), maternal health conditions during pregnancy (e.g. infections or pre-eclampsia), and complications around the time of birth, such as reduced oxygen to the brain, stroke, or severe jaundice.

Each person with cerebral palsy is unique. While one person might have weakness in one hand and find tasks like writing or tying shoelaces challenging, others may have difficulty walking or with other gross motor skills. Some people find one side of the body is affected much more than the other, and some find their legs are much more affected than their arms.

You may find that you or your child is only very mildly affected on one side while some people may have little or no control over their movements or speech and need assistance day and night.

People with severe cerebral palsy may also have difficulties with swallowing, breathing and eating.

Not all signs of cerebral palsy are obvious at birth. Some become clearer as your child grows and develops. Trust your instincts, if you have any concerns, speak with your GP, paediatrician, or other healthcare provider.

Early signs to watch for

• At around 4 months: hands are always fisted, poor head or neck control, or unusual postures and movements 
• Between 6–12 months: stiffness in the legs or difficulty with movement 
• At around 9 months: unable to sit independently 
• Before 12 months: strong preference for using one hand (early hand dominance) 
• After 12 months: walking on tiptoes or with an unusual or awkward posture 

Other possible signs

• Muscles that feel either very stiff or very floppy 
• Delayed motor milestones (e.g. rolling, sitting, crawling, walking) 
• Feeding or swallowing difficulties 
• Limited movement or favouring one side of the body 
• Delayed speech or communication skills 

These signs do not always mean a child has cerebral palsy, but they are important indicators that further assessment may be needed. Early identification allows children to access the right support as soon as possible.

Cerebral palsy can be classified based on movement type, body distribution, and functional severity.  The movement types are outlined below:

1. Spastic cerebral palsy
Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common form.
People with this type have increased muscle tone (spasticity), which makes their muscles feel stiff. Movements may appear rigid, awkward, and jerky. This stiffness can make movement difficult and, in severe cases, limit mobility significantly.

2. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy
Dyskinetic cerebral palsy is characterised by involuntary (uncontrolled) movements. These movements often become more noticeable when a person attempts voluntary actions. Dyskinetic movements may also occur alongside spasticity.

Types of dyskinetic movements include:
•    Dystonia: twisting and repetitive involuntary movements during activities 
•    Athetosis: continuous, slow, writhing movements

3. Ataxic cerebral palsy 
This is the least common form of cerebral palsy. 
Ataxia refers to a lack of coordination. Movements are often unsteady, imprecise, and poorly controlled. Individuals may appear clumsy, with difficulties in balance and coordination, particularly during tasks like walking or reaching for objects.

4. Hypotonic cerebral palsy
Hypotonic cerebral palsy is characterised by low muscle tone (hypotonia), which results in “floppy” muscles, reduced strength, and poor postural stability. Individuals with this type often present with poor head and neck control, increased joint flexibility, and delayed motor milestones, including sitting, standing, or walking independently. 

5. Mixed cerebral palsy
Mixed cerebral palsy occurs when more than one area of the brain is affected, leading to a combination of movement disorders. The most common presentation is a combination of spastic and dyskinetic features.

Other classifications can be found here:

•  Types of cerebral palsy – movement type
•  Types of cerebral palsy – body parts affected
•  Types of cerebral palsy – severity classifications

Cerebral palsy is diagnosed based on a child’s development, movement, and physical signs rather than a single test. While diagnosis used to occur later (around 12–24 months), it is now often possible to identify cerebral palsy, or a high likelihood of it, much earlier.

Early identification matters because it allows your child to start targeted support during a critical period of brain development. Early intervention can improve movement and learning, help prevent complications, and support your family from the beginning. A “wait and see” approach is no longer recommended when there are clear concerns.

Doctors may first notice signs such as delayed motor milestones, unusual muscle tone (too stiff or too floppy), or atypical movements or postures. If there are concerns, your child may be referred for further assessment. For younger infants (under 5 months), a General Movements Assessment (a short, non-invasive observation of your baby’s spontaneous movements) together with brain imaging such as MRI can very accurately identify risk. For older infants (over 5 months), assessments like the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE), along with MRI findings, are commonly used. Your concerns as a parent are important and can help guide early assessment.

In many cases, clinicians may say your child is “at high risk of cerebral palsy” rather than waiting for a confirmed diagnosis. This allows early intervention to begin straight away.

You and your child will be supported by a multidisciplinary team, which may include a GP, paediatrician, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, and speech pathologist. Together, they will help you understand your child’s strengths and needs, plan regular follow-up, and start early intervention. Many services also offer parent coaching to support you in helping your child’s development at home.

Early intervention plays a key role in improving outcomes for babies and young children with cerebral palsy, or those at high risk. As soon as concerns are identified, your child may be referred to a multidisciplinary team that can include physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, psychologists, social workers, and early childhood educators. The type and amount of support will depend on your child’s individual needs.

Current international guidelines recommend goal-directed, task-specific training as the foundation of early intervention. This means therapy focuses on practising meaningful, everyday skills that matter to your child and family, such as reaching, sitting, walking, communicating, or playing. These approaches are active, repetitive, and tailored to your child’s goals, helping them learn through real-life experiences rather than passive exercises.

The early years are especially important because the brain is still developing and highly adaptable. This ability to change and learn, known as neuroplasticity, is driven by activity and practice. Early, intensive, and engaging intervention helps strengthen connections in the brain, supporting better motor and cognitive development over time.

You will play a central role in your child’s progress. Many early intervention services include parent coaching, so you can confidently support your child’s development during everyday routines at home. This partnership between families and therapists helps create more opportunities for practice, making therapy both effective and meaningful.

Advances in therapies, assistive technology, and support services are helping adults with cerebral palsy live more independently and manage symptoms effectively. Ongoing input from allied health and exercise professionals can support strength, mobility, and help manage fatigue, pain, and changes in function over time.

Support often extends into daily living and participation. Assistive devices such as mobility aids, orthoses, and adaptive equipment can improve independence with movement, communication, and self-care. Home modifications like ramps, grab rails, bathroom adjustments, and accessible layouts can improve safety and accessibility.

In the workplace, reasonable adjustments such as ergonomic setups, flexible working arrangements, assistive software, and accessible environments can support participation and productivity. For those entering employment, vocational training and supported employment services can help build skills, match strengths to suitable roles, and support long-term job engagement.

Together, these supports help improve independence, participation, and quality of life across adulthood.

Here are some of our most helpful resources on cerebral palsy and assessment. They provide clear, practical information to help you understand CP and the support available.

• Cerebral palsy diagnosis in children 0–6 years
• Cerebral palsy diagnosis in children 7-17 years
• Cerebral palsy diagnosis in adults 18-55+ years

For more information, visit our resources. 

Provided and produced courtesy of Cerebral Palsy Alliance at www.cerebralpalsy.org.au

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