Cerebral palsy characteristics will vary depending on the specific type of cerebral palsy that has been diagnosed. In general cerebral palsy will cause a change in normal gross and fine motor skills but may also result in seizure activity and possible mental retardation. Spastic cerebral palsy includes characteristics of constantly muscle contractions, leading to very stiff muscle movement on a continuous basis. Ataxic cerebral palsy includes characteristics of lack of balance and difficulty with coordination and movement. Dyskinetic or Athetoid cerebral palsy gives the individual a writhing type of movement that is typically very slow and controlled. This is also a possibility to have a mixed type, which may be even more challenging to correctly diagnose and manage. Since not all symptoms of cerebral palsy are immediately evident, diagnosis can be even more complicated. Although there is a high percentage of children that are diagnosed within one month of birth, some children may not be diagnosed until later in life, particularly if there are other health conditions present that may also be contributing to the child's early development.