Cerebral palsy is the name given to a large group of motor (body movement) disorders that begin early in life and result from brain injuries that are non-progressive (do not worsen over time). Some children with cerebral palsy also have learning, vision, hearing and language disorders. Brain injuries that produce cerebral palsy can happen before, during or after birth. Although the specific brain injury causing cerebral palsy does not worsen, the movement problems produced by the injury can vary over time.In most cases of cerebral palsy, the exact cause is unknown. Some possibilities include developmental abnormalities of the brain, brain injury to the fetus caused by low oxygen levels (asphyxia) or poor circulation, infection, and trauma. Injury and asphyxia during labor and delivery once were thought to be common reasons for cerebral palsy. However, some current research suggests that cerebral palsy is caused by problems that happen earlier in the pregnancy and then result in a difficult delivery.
