Diagnosing Cerebral Palsy
By Glenn Withers
Monday, May 02, 2005
A diagnosis of cerebral palsy is generally made within the first 3 years of a child's life. Parents are frequently the first to notice that their child is developing slower than normal.
Some of the early signs that a child might have cerebral palsy include:
Slow to reach developmental milestones - these include rolling over, sitting, crawling, and walking
Abnormal muscle tone - the infant's body may seem limp or abnormally stiff
Unusual posture
Doctors will carefully examine the child's medical history for signs that cerebral palsy is the root of developmental problems. These signs include:
Breech birth
Complications with labor or during delivery
Premature birth or low birth weight
Multiple births
Nervous system defects
Other physical defects
Maternal bleeding in the last three months of pregnancy
It is important to remember that these are only risk factors for cerebral palsy, and that most children who exhibit one or more of these factors will not develop the disease.
In addition to examining the child's medical history, the doctor will also test the child's motor skills. They will check for slow development, abnormal muscle tone, and unusual posture, as well as reflexes and hand preference. After checking these factors, they will then need to rule out other disorders that cause movement irregularity. Specifically, the physician will look to see if the condition is getting progressively worse. Cerebral palsy is not a progressive disease, so if the child's condition is deteriorating, it may be due to some other disorder.
When the physician has determined that the child has the disorder, there are several tests that may help determine the cause of cerebral palsy. A Computed Tomography (CT) scan is used to reveal abnormal cysts, areas of the brain that are underdeveloped, and other physical abnormalities within the brain. The physician may also choose to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to reveal areas that may not show up on a CT scan.
Finally, the physician will test the child for other conditions linked to cerebral palsy. These include: mental impairment, seizure disorders, and vision and hearing problems.
If your child has suffered a birth injury before, during, or shortly after birth, contact a Chicago Cerebral Palsy Lawyer to discuss your legal rights right now.
