Does cerebral palsy affect the tongue?

Cerebral palsy can affect the muscles that open and close the mouth and move the lips and the tongue. Some people with cerebral palsy may have difficulties in chewing and swallowing food and drink – a condition known as dysphagia.

What are the signs of cerebral palsy in a baby?

poor muscle tone in a baby’s limbs, resulting in heavy or floppy arms and legs. stiffness in a baby’s joints or muscles, or uncontrolled movement in a baby’s arms or legs. difficulty coordinating body movements, including grasping and clapping. a delay in meeting milestones, such as rolling over, crawling, and walking.

What is tongue thrust in cerebral palsy?

Tongue thrust, which is an oral reflex associated with sucking behaviour, may cause problems in swallowing, speech, oro-facial development and also drooling. We aimed to examine the effect of Functional Chewing Training (FuCT) on tongue thrust and drooling in children with cerebral palsy.

Do babies with cerebral palsy smile?

Social and Emotional Milestones Emotional and social milestones are not always as easy to assess, but delays in these can also indicate a child has cerebral palsy or another developmental disorder. A 2-month old baby should be able to smile at people and use simple self-calming techniques.

What does mild cerebral palsy look like?

However, it is essential to know what the signs of mild CP look like in order to prevent complications from progressing. Signs of mild cerebral palsy include: Abnormal walking: walking on the toes, walking on the heels, continuous bending of the knees, walking with toes pointing inwards or outward, slight limping, etc.

Can you tell if a baby has cerebral palsy before birth?

Can Cerebral Palsy Be Detected Before Birth? Cerebral palsy cannot be detected before birth. However, if a fetus is in a high-risk category for developing cerebral palsy, performing an ultrasound can detect an abnormality. This allows doctors and parents to start therapy early to help with development.

What does tongue thrusting in infants mean?

In infancy, tongue thrust is a natural reflex that happens when something touches the baby’s mouth. This reflex causes the tongue to push out to help the baby breast or bottle-feed. As the child gets older, their swallowing habits naturally change and this reflex goes away.

What does a tongue thrust look like?

Symptoms of Tongue Thrust One of the most obvious signs of tongue thrust is your tongue pushing against your teeth when you swallow. Although this symptom is typically obvious, other, less noticeable signs could indicate you have the condition. Tongue thrust affects how you speak, eat, and swallow.

Can a baby with cerebral palsy do tummy time?

Now, I know that tummy time is generally known as something for babies but the good news is that it’s a really helpful position for children with any physical difficulties including cerebral palsy.