cerebral palsy

noun

Pathology.

1. a form of paralysis believed to be caused by a prenatal brain defect or by brain injury during birth, most marked in certain motor areas and characterized by difficulty in control of the voluntary muscles.

cerebral palsy

noun

1. a nonprogressive impairment of muscular function and weakness of the limbs, caused by lack of oxygen to the brain immediately after birth, brain injury during birth, or viral infection

cerebral palsy

1. A motor disorder often caused by brain injury occurring at or before birth, characterized by muscular impairment and symptoms such as poor coordination, spasm, abnormal stiffness, speech difficulties, and sometimes paralysis. Some children with cerebral palsy have accompanying neurologic conditions such as epilepsy, learning disorders, and mental retardation.

cerebral palsy

1. A disorder marked by lack of muscle coordination and sometimes accompanied by speech defects. It is caused by brain damage present at birth or experienced during birth or infancy.

Other Word Forms

• cerebral palsied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cerebral palsy¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

"It was a stark reminder that my cerebral palsy makes me stand out, and is often used as a weapon against me."

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The injury can affect the brain's ability to communicate with the body, leading to conditions such as epilepsy, which causes seizures, or cerebral palsy, which affects movement and coordination.

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Mr. Davenport, who makes films “about disability” according to his website, also makes them from the perspective of the disabled—he has cerebral palsy and often uses a wheelchair.

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Meanwhile Billy, 23, who has cerebral palsy, had to fight two tribunals challenging his local authority to fund his place at National Star.

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Born with cerebral palsy, he had tried other sports like table tennis and basketball but for him wheelchair rugby was a natural fit.

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