children s health issues
Cerebral Palsy (CP)
Diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy
Imaging of the brain Blood tests and sometimes tests of nerve and muscle function Cerebral palsy is difficult to diagnose during early infancy. As the baby matures, delays in learning to walk and developing other motor skills (motor development), spasticity, or lack of coordination become noticeable. The specific type of cerebral palsy often cannot be distinguished before the child is 2 years old. If doctors suspect cerebral palsy, brain imaging, typically Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) , is done. It can usually detect any abnormalities that may be causing symptoms. Doctors also ask questions about problems during the pregnancy or delivery and about the child's developmental progress. Such information may help identify a cause. Although laboratory tests cannot identify cerebral palsy, a doctor may do blood tests to identify a cause and to look for other disorders. If the cause is still not clear or if muscle problems seem to be getting worse or differ from those typically caused by cerebral palsy, doctors may recommend additional testing, such as electrical studies of nerves ( Nerve conduction studies ) and muscles ( 