Diagnosing Cerebral Palsy
Doctors diagnose cerebral palsy by testing an infant’s motor skills and looking carefully at the infant’s medical history. In addition to checking for slow development, abnormal muscle tone, and unusual posture, a physician can also perform a number of medical tests such as MRIs, CTs, and ultrasounds to look at pictures of the infant’s brain, which can help determine the cause of the child’s problems as well as rule out other disorders. Please contact 4MyChild for more information regarding how cerebral palsy is diagnosed.
Reflex Test
Reflexes are movements that the body makes automatically in response to a specific cue. There are many reflexes physicians check. For example, when a newborn is held on its back and tilted so its legs are above its head, the baby will automatically extend its arms in a gesture, called the Moro reflex, which looks like an embrace. Babies normally lose this reflex after they reach 6 months, but those with cerebral palsy may retain it for abnormally long periods.
Hand Preference Test
Doctors can also test for hand preference-a baby’s tendency to use either the right or left hand more often. The doctor will hold an object in front and to the side of the infant. An infant with a hand preference will use the favored hand to reach for the object, even when it is held closer to the opposite hand. During the first 12 months of life, babies do not usually show hand preference. However, infants with cerebral palsy may develop a preference much earlier, since one hand is usually stronger and more useful.
CT
Computed tomography, or CT, a sophisticated imaging technique that uses X rays and a computer to create an anatomical picture of the brain’s tissues and structures. A CT scan may reveal brain areas that are underdeveloped, abnormal cysts (sacs that are often filled with liquid) in the brain, or other physical problems. With the information from CT scans, doctors may be better equipped to judge the long-term outlook for an affected child.
MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, is a relatively new brain imaging technique that is rapidly gaining widespread use for identifying brain disorders. This technique uses a magnetic field and radio waves, not X rays to map portions of the brain. MRI gives better pictures of structures or abnormal areas located near bone than CT.
EEG
When the doctor suspects a seizure disorder, an electroencephalogram, or EEG, may be ordered. An EEG uses special patches called electrodes placed on the scalp to record the natural electrical currents inside the brain. This recording can help the doctor see telltale patterns in the brain’s electrical activity that suggest a seizure disorder.
Intelligence Tests
Intelligence tests are often used to determine if a child with cerebral palsy is mentally impaired. Sometimes, however, a child’s intelligence may be underestimated because problems with movement, sensation, or speech due to cerebral palsy make it difficult for him or her to perform well on these tests.
Vision Tests
If problems with vision are suspected, the doctor may refer the patient to an ophthalmologist for examination; if hearing impairment seems likely, an audiologist may be called in.
Ruling Out Other Disorders
A crucial step in diagnosing cerebral palsy is to rule out other disorders that can cause movement problems. Most importantly, doctors must determine that the child’s condition is not getting worse. Although symptoms may change over time, cerebral palsy is not progressive. If a child is continuously losing motor skills, the problem more likely has another cause, such as a genetic disease, a muscle disease, a disorder of metabolism, or a tumor in the nervous system. The child’s medical history, special diagnostic tests, and, in some cases, repeated check-ups can help confirm that other disorders are not at fault.
