Cerebral palsy: Causes, symptoms & treatment

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Cerebral causes muscle dysfunction but doesn’t always affect intellectual capacity.   (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Cerebral palsy is not just one condition — it’s a constellation of disorders in which changes in the brain cause problems with muscle control and weakness. These muscle problems lead to issues with balance, movement and posture. The brain changes associated with cerebral palsy can also impact hearing, seeing, thinking and learning.

In the U.S., about 1 in 345 children have cerebral palsy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The condition is more common in boys than girls and more common in Black children than white children.