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Ataxic cerebral palsy

Up to 10 percent of children with cerebral palsy are diagnosed with the ataxic type. Ataxic cerebral palsy inhibits balance and coordination.

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About 70% of cerebral palsy cases result from a birth injury. Was your child one of them?

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What is ataxic cerebral palsy?

Like all other types of cerebral palsy, ataxic CP is a developmental disorder that affects motor function. Ataxic cerebral palsy is characterized by problems with balance and coordination. These issues are caused by damage to the developing brain’s motor control centers.

Children with ataxic cerebral palsy have a hard time controlling their movements. They are shaky and struggle with precise movements, such as writing and grasping small objects. Ataxic CP can affect the hands, arms, legs, feet, eyes and even speech.

Causes and risk factors

Ataxic cerebral palsy is caused by a brain injury to the cerebellum before, during, or shortly after birth.

Cerebellum injuries

The cerebellum is essential for uninhibited motor function. It is central to regulating balance and coordination commands from other parts of the brain, such as the motor cortex, and translating these signals to the central nervous system. It also helps regulate posture, muscle movement, and communication.

Damage to the cerebellum can be caused by:

  • Infections in the womb
  • Loss of oxygen from placental failure or breech birth
  • Head trauma during or after birth
  • Brain bleed from fetal stroke

The risk factors of ataxic cerebral palsy are events that increase the likelihood of a child developing the condition. Mothers who had poor maternal health are at higher risk for having children with ataxic cerebral palsy. Children who have been victims of abuse also have a higher chance of developing ataxic cerebral palsy because of a possible brain injury.

Signs and symptoms

The primary symptoms of ataxic cerebral palsy are problems with balance and coordination of motor skills. 

The damage to the cerebellum that caused the palsy may also result in secondary symptoms, such as trouble hearing or seeing.

The most common symptoms of ataxic cerebral palsy are:

  • Imprecise motor skills
  • Trouble walking and balancing
  • Issues with depth perception
  • Tremors and shakiness

Just because a child has these symptoms doesn’t mean they will be diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Doctors usually hesitate to make a diagnosis until the child is at least 18 months of age to ensure they make an accurate diagnosis.

Diagnostic tools may include brain imaging (MRI and CT scan), testing of the brain’s signaling to the muscles (EEG and EMG), and a continued medical assessment of movement, muscle tone, and growth and development.

Developmental signs of ataxic cerebral palsy in a child include:

  • Walking with feet spread far apart
  • Trouble bringing hands together
  • Unsteady gait
  • Trouble grasping objects
  • Over-correcting movements
  • Trouble with repetitious movements
  • Struggling with speech
  • Slow eye movements
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Treatment

Physical therapy and occupational therapy are among some of the main treatments for ataxic cerebral palsy. These treatments can help children with ataxic CP become more independent later in life.

Physical therapy

Often the first step of treatment, physical therapy combines strength and flexibility exercises with massage therapy and orthotic devices, such as splints and casts. Orthotic devices are helpful when it comes to walking and posture by providing children with balance and stability.

The overall goal of physical therapy is to help children manage their movement problems and become more independent. In children with ataxic CP, it may be difficult to balance or control reflexes. Physical therapists use various exercises when working with children who have this type of cerebral palsy to prevent muscles that are not used regularly from growing weak or shrinking.

Occupational therapy

Occupational therapy can help improve problems with balance or coordination in children with ataxic cerebral palsy while increasing their upper body strength. A main goal of occupational therapy is to provide a child with ataxic CP with the skills they need to perform daily tasks on their own and decrease the use of assistive devices.

An occupational therapist will typically use various exercises to evaluate a child’s ability to perform daily tasks and age-appropriate activities. These exercises may also improve issues with strength, hand-eye coordination, sensory processing skills and playing with children their age.

Speech therapy

Children with ataxic cerebral palsy often struggle with expressing thoughts or emotions through speech, as well as having trouble swallowing. Speech therapy entails the use of articulation therapy, breathing exercises and word association to help a child with ataxic CP to better communicate.

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) will evaluate a child’s communication skills by conducting a series of auditory or listening training tests. SLPs will also use language intervention activities that incorporate books, objects, and pictures to stimulate language development. Swallowing and tongue exercises will allow children with conditions such as dysphagia to strengthen the muscles in their mouth and face.

Medication

Many children with ataxic cerebral palsy are prescribed medication as a supplement to physical therapy. Muscle relaxants and anti-anxiety medication, such as Valium, can calm shakiness and tremors.

Medications can also be used to treat co-occurring conditions, such as epilepsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and incontinence. Physicians will typically evaluate the level of tremors a child with ataxic cerebral palsy experiences and prescribe medication based on the severity and frequency.

To find out more information on ataxic cerebral palsy, try downloading our free Cerebral Palsy Guide, which includes 12 pages of in-depth information for children and parents of a child with CP.

Reviewed by:Katie Lavender, RN

Registered Nurse

  • Fact-Checked
  • Editor

Katie Lavender has over 8 years of experience as a Registered Nurse in postpartum mother/baby care. With hands-on experience in Labor and Delivery and a role as a Community Educator for newborn care, Katie is a staunch advocate for patient rights and education. As a Medical Reviewer, she is committed to ensuring accurate and trustworthy patient information.

Cerebral Palsy Guide was founded upon the goal of educating families about cerebral palsy, raising awareness, and providing support for children, parents, and caregivers affected by the condition. Our easy-to-use website offers simple, straightforward information that provides families with medical and legal solutions. We are devoted to helping parents and children access the tools they need to live a life full of happiness

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 14). About cerebral palsy? Retrieved July 14, 2024, from https://www.cdc.gov/cerebral-palsy/about/index.html
  2. Cerebral Palsy Alliance. (n.d.). Ataxic cerebral palsy. Retrieved July 14, 2024, from https://www.cerebralpalsy.org.au/what-is-cerebral-palsy/types-of-cerebral-palsy/ataxic-cerebral-palsy-ataxia/
  3. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. (n.d.). Problems associated with CP. Retrieved July 14, 2024, from https://med.uth.edu/neurosciences/conditions-and-treatments/cerebral-palsy-and-spasticity/