What Is Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy? Cerebral palsy (CP) affects muscle movement and control. People with cerebral palsy have it for life. Dyskinetic CP (also called athetoid CP) is one type of cerebral palsy. Kids with dyskinetic CP have trouble controlling muscle movement. They have twisting, abrupt movements. Other types of cerebral palsy can lead to stiff muscles (spastic CP) or problems with balance and walking (ataxic CP). Some kids have more than one kind of CP. And sometimes, the type of CP a child has can change over time. What Causes Cerebral Palsy? Cerebral palsy is thought to be caused by a brain injury or problem. In dyskinetic CP, the injury or problem is in an area of the brain called the basal ganglia. The basal ganglia is responsible for getting messages about movement from the brain to the muscles. A child might be born with CP or develop it later. The brain injury or problem doesn't get worse, but someone with CP may have different needs over time. Cerebral palsy can be caused by: infections during pregnancy stroke either in the womb or after birth untreated jaundice (yellowing of skin or whites of the eyes) genetic disorders medical problems in the mom during pregnancy being shaken as a baby (shaken baby syndrome) injury during delivery injury from an accident (such as a car accident) Premature babies (babies born early) are at higher risk for CP than babies born at full-term. So are low-birthweight babies (even if carried to term) and multiple births, such as twins and triplets. What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy? Kids with dyskinetic (diss-kih-NET-ik) cerebral palsy have trouble making their muscles do what they want them to. When they try to get their muscles to move a certain way, other movements happen, such as: dystonia: twisting and repeating movements that can be painful athetosis: slow, writhing movements chorea: irregular, abrupt movements Kids with all types of CP can have vision, hearing, speech, eating, behavior, and learning problems. Some kids have seizures. How Is Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy Diagnosed? Most children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy are diagnosed in the first 2 years of life. Health care providers look for signs of CP if a baby is born early or has another health problem that's associated with CP. No single test can diagnose dyskinetic CP. So health care professionals look at many things, including a child's: development growth reflexes movement muscle tone Testing may include: brain MRI, CT scan, or ultrasound blood and urine (pee) tests to check for other medical conditions, including genetic conditions electroencephalography (EEG) to look at electrical activity in the brain electromyography (EMG) to check for muscle weakness evaluation of how a child walks and moves speech, hearing, and vision testing How Is Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy Treated? There is no cure for cerebral palsy. The health care team works with the child and family to make a treatment plan. The health care team includes a: pediatrician developmental behavioral pediatrician occupational therapist physical therapist speech therapist dietitian neurologist (nervous system doctor) ophthalmologist (eye doctor) orthopedic surgeon (bone doctor) otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor) The treatment plan may include: physical therapy and occupational therapy leg braces, a walker, and/or a wheelchair medicine for muscle pain, stiffness, or irregular movements special nutrition to help the child grow surgery to improve movement in the legs, ankles, feet, hips, wrists, and arms Where Can Caregivers Get Help? Taking care of a child with cerebral palsy can feel overwhelming at times. Not only do kids with CP need a lot of attention at home, they also need to go to many medical appointments and therapies. Don't be afraid to say yes when someone asks, "Can I help?" Your family and friends really do want to be there for you. To feel less alone and to connect with others who are facing the same challenges, find a local or online support group. You also can get information and support from CP organizations, such as: Cerebral Palsy Foundation United Cerebral Palsy Staying strong and healthy is not only good for you, but also for your child and your whole family. Looking Ahead Living with cerebral palsy is different for every child. To help your child move and learn as much as possible, work closely with your care team to develop a treatment plan. Then, as your child grows and his or her needs change, adjust the plan as necessary. These guides can help as you plan for each stage of childhood and early adulthood: Cerebral Palsy Checklist: Babies & Preschoolers (Birth to Age 5) Cerebral Palsy Checklist: Big Kids (Ages 6 to 12) Cerebral Palsy Checklist: Teens & Young Adults (Ages 13 to 21) Back to Articles Related Articles Ataxic Cerebral Palsy Kids with ataxic CP have trouble with balance. They may walk with their legs farther apart than other kids. And they can have trouble knowing exactly where something is. Read More Cerebral Palsy Cerebral palsy (CP) affects a child's muscle tone, movement, and more. This article explains causes, diagnosis, treatment, and coping. Read More Cerebral Palsy Cerebral palsy is one of the most common developmental disabilities in the United States. It affects a person's ability to move and coordinate body movements. Read More Cerebral Palsy (CP) Learn all about cerebral palsy (CP), one of the most common congenital disorders of childhood. Help your child or teen manage the condition, and find the help and services that kids with CP are entitled to. Read More Cerebral Palsy Checklist: Babies & Preschoolers If your child has cerebral palsy, there's a lot to know. This checklist makes it easy to find out what programs and services may be available to you. Read More Cerebral Palsy Checklist: Big Kids If you have a school-age child with cerebral palsy, there's a lot to know. This checklist makes it easy to find out what programs and services may be available to you. Read More Cerebral Palsy Checklist: Teens & Young Adults If your teen has cerebral palsy, there's a lot to know. This checklist makes it easy to determine what programs and services might be needed as your teen nears adulthood. Read More Cerebral Palsy Factsheet (for Schools) What teachers should know about cerebral palsy, and teaching strategies to help students with CP succeed in school. Read More Cerebral Palsy: A Parent's Guide (Video) Are you raising a child with cerebral palsy? This guide offers advice, resources, and support so that you can help your child reach his or her full potential. Read More Cerebral Palsy: Ira's Story (Video) Ira has cerebral palsy (CP), but it doesn't interfere with his love of sports or his dream of being a broadcaster. Check out this video. Read More Cerebral Palsy: Parents Talk (Video) Get advice from parents raising kids with cerebral palsy. Learn what works, what doesn’t, and what helped these families the most. Read More Cerebral Palsy: Shannon's Story (Video) Shannon has cerebral palsy, which limits many abilities. But her wheelchair and her communication device give her the freedom to explore, and a voice to be heard. Read More Dietary Needs for Kids With Cerebral Palsy Kids with cerebral palsy often have trouble eating. But with the right diet and feeding techniques, they can get the nutrients needed to thrive. Read More Spastic Cerebral Palsy Kids with spastic CP have stiff muscles in the upper part of the body, the lower part, or both. Read More Brain and Nervous System If the brain is a central computer that controls all the functions of the body, then the nervous system is like a network that relays messages back and forth to different parts of the body. Find out how they work in this Body Basics article. Read More Brain and Nervous System The brain controls everything we do, and is often likened to the central computer within a vast, complicated communication network, working at lightning speed. Read More Physical Therapy Doctors often recommend physical therapy for kids who have been injured or have movement problems from an illness, disease, or disability. Learn more about PT. Read More Wheelchairs Wheelchairs are a way for some people to be independent, despite illnesses or injuries. Find out more in this article for kids. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.