Types of Cerebral Palsy

The types of cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is classified by the kind of movement problem it causes (spastic, dyskinetic, ataxic, or mixed), which reflects the part of the brain that was injured. A second layer of description tells doctors which body parts are involved, and a standardized scale rates how much the condition limits movement. Together, these classifications shape a child’s therapy plan and, in a legal case, can point toward the underlying cause.

Spastic cerebral palsy

Spastic CP is by far the most common form, affecting roughly 75-80% of people with cerebral palsy. “Spastic” means the muscles are stiff and tight (increased tone), making movement stiff and effortful. It results from injury to the motor cortex or its connecting pathways. Spastic CP is further described by which limbs are affected:

• Spastic hemiplegia: one side of the body (an arm and leg on the same side).
• Spastic diplegia: mainly the legs, with the arms less affected; often associated with prematurity and a pattern of brain injury called periventricular leukomalacia.
• Spastic quadriplegia: all four limbs, often with the trunk, face, and mouth; the most severe form, frequently accompanied by seizures and intellectual disability.

Dyskinetic (athetoid) cerebral palsy

Dyskinetic CP (also called athetoid, choreoathetoid, or dystonic CP), causes involuntary movements that can be slow and writhing or rapid and jerky, along with muscle tone that shifts from too loose to too tight. It comes from injury to the basal ganglia, deep structures that fine-tune movement.

This type carries special significance in birth injury law: it is the classic result of kernicterus, the brain injury caused by severe untreated newborn jaundice. A child with athetoid movements, sensorineural hearing loss, and often preserved intelligence, with a history of significant newborn jaundice, shows the recognizable kernicterus pattern, one of the most preventable causes of cerebral palsy. Our kernicterus guide explains that pathway in detail.

Ataxic cerebral palsy

Ataxic CP is the least common form. It affects balance and coordination, producing shaky, unsteady movements and difficulty with precise tasks such as writing or grasping. Walking may be wide-based and unsteady. It results from injury to the cerebellum, the brain’s coordination center.

Mixed cerebral palsy

Some children have features of more than one type, most commonly spastic and dyskinetic together, when more than one region of the brain was injured. This is called mixed cerebral palsy, and the treatment plan addresses each component.

By body part: how doctors describe distribution

GMFCS: measuring severity

The Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) is the standard five-level scale doctors use to describe how cerebral palsy affects a child’s mobility. It focuses on what a child can do, especially sitting and walking, rather than on the type of CP.

GMFCS level is one of the most useful predictors of long-term mobility and a key input into a life-care plan, because it drives the equipment, therapy, and attendant care a child will need.

Why the type of cerebral palsy matters legally

The type and pattern of CP can be a clue to the underlying brain injury, which in turn bears on whether it was preventable. Athetoid CP with hearing loss suggests kernicterus and points to newborn jaundice management. Spastic quadriplegia in a term baby may prompt scrutiny of oxygen deprivation and fetal monitoring during labor. Spastic diplegia in a premature baby often reflects prematurity itself rather than any error. None of these is proof, only a records review establishes cause, but the type of CP tells experts where to look. See what leads to cerebral palsy and whether a cerebral palsy case is possible, and note that filing deadlines vary by state on our statute of limitations guide.

Where a case is handled depends on where the care occurred: Banville Law attorneys are licensed in New York and Washington, D.C.; The Weitz Firm attorneys are licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey; elsewhere, the alliance connects families with its vetted network of local birth injury attorneys.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common type of cerebral palsy?

Spastic cerebral palsy, which involves stiff, tight muscles, accounts for about 75-80% of all cases. It is further divided by which limbs are affected: hemiplegia, diplegia, or quadriplegia.

Which type of cerebral palsy is linked to jaundice?

Dyskinetic (athetoid) cerebral palsy is the classic result of kernicterus, brain injury from severe untreated newborn jaundice. It often appears alongside hearing loss and preserved intelligence.

What does a GMFCS level tell you?

The GMFCS rates how much cerebral palsy limits a child’s movement, from Level I (walks without limitation) to Level V (uses a wheelchair with significant limitations). It helps predict long-term mobility and guides the equipment and care a child will need.

Can a child have more than one type of cerebral palsy?

Yes. Mixed cerebral palsy combines features of more than one type, most often spastic and dyskinetic, when more than one part of the brain was injured.

Sources

This page is for general education and is not medical advice. Medical facts above are drawn from the cited primary sources; legal statements reflect the reviewing attorneys’ professional experience. Always consult your child’s physician about medical concerns.