Ataxic cerebral palsy is rare, occurring in only about 10 percent of all individuals affected. It is characterized by weakness, uncoordinated movements, and unsteadiness. A wide gait and difficulty with fine motor skills is also common. Mixed forms or cerebral palsy are common, and is exactly what the name implies. There can be a combination of any of the cerebral palsy forms, however, spasticity and athetosis are the most common combination.
Cerebral palsy is a nonprogressive disorder.
This means that whatever damage was done to the brain will not get any worse. The problem that many parents face is that, generally, it is impossible to diagnose cerebral palsy with any certainty in infancy. Many cases are not diagnosed until somewhere around age two. It only appears that the disorder is progressive because the symptoms may not appear until the child's lack of motor skills, or other developmental delays begin to emerge. For example, a child at age two may have difficulty walking and at age six difficulty in writing and reading.