Symptoms and Diagnosis

The symptoms of cerebral palsy will normally become apparent during the first three years of your child's life.

Cerebral Palsy symptoms may include...

  • Slowness in achieving important developmental goals, such as learning to crawl, walk or speak
  • Increased muscle tone which can make them appear stiff or rigid. This is known as hypertonia
  • Decreased muscle tone which makes them appear floppy. This is known as hypotonia
  • An early period of hypotonia for the first two or three months of the child's life before progressing to hypertonia
  • The tendency to favour one side of the body over the other, which can make posture appear unusual

If you are concerned about your child's development you should see your GP who will be able to refer you to a paediatrician (a doctor who specialises in the treatment of children).

The paediatrician will ask you about your child's history and their pattern of development. They will also study your child's reflexes, posture, motor skills and muscle tone.

Depending on your child's age, you may also be referred to an educational psychologist so your child's intellectual development can be assessed.

Testing

Further tests may be recommended to rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms to cerebral palsy, such as a tumour or muscular dystrophy (a genetic condition affecting the development of the muscles).

In some cases further testing will also be able to confirm a diagnosis of cerebral palsy. This is because the condition can cause changes to the structure of the brain which can be detected by the tests.

Some of the tests your child may require include...

  • Blood tests.
  • Cranial ultrasound - this uses sound waves to build up a picture of your child's brain tissue.
  • MRI scan - this test uses radio and magnetic waves to study the brain in more detail.
  • CT scan - this test uses a series of X-rays which are then reassembled by a computer to create a detailed 3-D model of your child's brain.

While a confident diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy can usually be made when your child is two or three years old, the type of cerebral palsy may not be able to be possible to assess until they reach four or five years of age.

For further information on how MyInjuryLawyer can help with a Cerebral Palsy claim, please call us free on 0800 043 4299.