Welcome to Our Neurology Module
Lindsey Reynolds
Jalesa Hood
Diagnosing Cerebral Palsy
A Long Road of Trial and Error
There is no test to confirm or rule out Cerebral Palsy!
Coming to a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy is often a long and frustrating process for parents and families. Diagnosis results after a long period of observation and developmental tests. There are typically three steps in diagnosing CP: Developmental monitoring, Developmental Screening, and Developmental and Medical Evaluation.
Developmental monitoring is just a period of observation. During a child's well visits, a doctor will track a child's development over a period of time. A pediatrician will also discuss with the parents if there is anything concerning about their child's development (concerns could be that a child is not achieving typical developmental milestones). If there is cause for concern based on the parent's or doctor's observation, then a developmental screening exam will occur.
Step One: Developmental Monitoring
Developmental screening is a basic screening exam to determine if a child has any developmental delays. For cerebral palsy, they will look in particular for motor or movement delays. Developmental screenings are also a recommended part of a pediatrician's visit when the child is 9, 18, and 24-30 months. A developmental screening may be as simple as a questionairre given to the parent about the child or having the pediatrician talk or play with the child during a well visit. From a developmental screening, a doctor can decide if intervention or further evaluation is needed.
Most movement delays are noticeable by 2.5 years!
Step Two: Developmental Screening
Step Three: Developmental and Medical Evaluation
The primary goal of the medical evaluation is to diagnose. From here, the child's motor skills, reflexes, posture, and muscle tone, are clearly evaluated. Doctors will also study the parent's medical records and history. Typically, the evaluation is completed by developmental pediatrician, neurologist, or physiatrist (You'll get to meet these people later!)
Doctors can finally diagnose a child with cerebral palsy once all other similar conditions are ruled out. The medical evaluation typically rules out:
-
Degenerative Nervous Disorders
-
Tumors
-
Genetic Diseases, and
-
Muscle Diseases
But it doesn't end there.
After Diagnosis:
-
A child will most likely be evaluated for any coexisting conditions (intellectual disabilities, speech disorders, seizures, etc.)
-
Additional tests might occur to look at the cause of cerebral palsy (Remember, the cause is often unknown!)
-
A doctor may recommend brain imaging scans to help uncover if there are any noticeable causes.
-
When does diagnosis happen?
For severe cases, diagnosis may be made at 18 months, but it can take from 3-5 years for children with milder symptoms. A reliable diagnosis might not be made until 4-5 years.
(Centers for Disease Control, 2016)
(Cerebral Palsy Alliance, 2016)
(CerebralPalsy.org, n.d.)