Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term that refers to a group of disorders affecting a person’s ability to move. In most cases, it is caused by an injury to the developing brain either during pregnancy or shortly after birth. It is a permanent life-long condition, but generally does not worsen over time.
Cerebral meaning ‘of the brain’ and palsy referring to ‘a lack of muscle control’ affects body movement, muscle control, muscle coordination, muscle tone, reflex, posture and balance. People who have cerebral palsy may also have visual, learning, hearing, speech, epilepsy and intellectual impairments.
This guide explains what cerebral palsy is in simple English. It is written for adults.Â
As a global centre of expertise for cerebral palsy research, advocacy, intervention and assistive technology innovation, we’ve produced an educational video series to demystify what cerebral palsy is.
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