Cerebral palsy is a permanent disorder of posture and movement resulting from brain damage occurring in a baby or young child. Cerebral palsy is the name given to a group of conditions that occur before, during, or in the first two years after birth. The damage affects both the messages being received by and sent from the brain, and the way in which the brain interprets the information it receives.

Children with cerebral palsy may experience other associated difficulties which may affect vision, hearing and learning. Some have difficulty in perceiving spaces and judging distances, as the messages to and from the brain get jumbled up. Aspects of digestion can be problematic causing swallowing difficulties, sickness and constipation. Each child is affected differently, both in the type of cerebral palsy and the severity.

Cerebral palsy affects approximately one in every 400 children born. Despite developments in maternity and paediatric care, the number of children born with cerebral palsy is not decreasing. In fact, due to improvements in health care more extremely premature babies are surviving and some of these babies have more complex needs.

There is no cure for cerebral palsy. The brain damage is irreparable, but therapy can encourage the brain to develop alternative pathways which can help to change the progression of the child's condition. It also helps children and their families manage the problems that cerebral palsy presents.

There are three main classifications of cerebral palsy:

Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Here the muscles are stiff and weak and children who have this condition tend to hold their bodies in certain characteristic ways and have limited movement.

Athetoid Cerebral Palsy

Causes the muscles to change quickly from floppy to stiff and makes arms, legs and body move excessively in a way that is hard for the child to control.

Ataxic Cerebral Palsy

This affects balance and causes unsteady movement.

All of the above classifications may also include associated difficulties with speech, vision and hearing.