How does hemiplegia occur?
The causes of hemiplegia are mostly unknown, and parents will usually only become aware of their child’s hemiplegia gradually during his or her infancy. Hemiplegia is caused by damage to some part of the brain, often because of a small stroke or bleed. This may happen before, during or soon after birth, when it is known as congenital hemiplegia, or later in which case it is called acquired hemiplegia. There is a higher risk of hemiplegia occurring in premature babies and it is unclear whether a difficult birth may be an occasional factor. However, a difficult birth may be a result of damage that has already occurred.
