Cerebral palsy is more common than people realise. It is believed that currently about one in every 400 children is affected by the condition, ie. about 1,600 babies are diagnosed with cerebral palsy in South Africa each year. It can affect people from all social backgrounds and ethnic groups.

It is often not possible for doctors to give a reason why part of a baby’s brain has been injured or failed to develop, as sometimes there is no obvious single reason why a child has cerebral palsy. Causes of cerebral palsy can be multiple and complex. Studies suggest that cerebral palsy is mostly due to factors affecting the brain before birth. Known possible causes include:

·         Infection in the early part of pregnancy.

·         Difficult or premature birth.

·         A cerebral (brain) bleed. This is more common following premature or multiple birth.

·         Abnormal brain development.