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Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis & Characteristics
 The characteristics of cerebral palsy may vary widely between
individuals depending on the degree and location of brain damage. Symptoms may
range from mild to severe, and diagnostic techniques can help determine the
extent of the condition.
Risk Factors
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Risk Factors
Risk factors are variables that have been observed to have an effect on the
diagnosis of medical conditions. Risk factors do not, by themselves, indicate
that a condition will occur, nor does the lack of a risk factor mean that a
condition will not occur. The presence of risk factors may simply point to an
increased likelihood, not a certainty, for the development of cerebral palsy.
Risk Factors for Cerebral Palsy
Symptoms
Cerebral palsy syndromes are grouped into four main categories: spastic, athetoid, ataxic,
and mixed forms. Each type of cerebral
palsy is characterized by different symptoms.
It is important to realize that the
presence of any of these symptoms does not necessarily indicate your child has
cerebral palsy. Children develop on different timeframes, and symptoms are often
outgrown. Only your doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and provide you with
the information you need to care for your child.
Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
Diagnosis
 The diagnosis of cerebral palsy includes the consideration and monitoring of
many factors, and may not be made until after the first or second years of
development. A child's brain and central nervous system have an amazing ability
to recover completely, or partially, following injury - this sometimes leads to
a delay in diagnosis. In addition, children develop at different rates, and
motor skill difficulties can frequently be signs of other problems -
misdirecting diagnosis. In most cases, an interdisciplinary team of medical
professionals will be gathered to review the child's strengths and weaknesses,
test results, risk factors and medical history. Based on these numerous
criteria, a diagnosis of cerebral palsy may be made.
Several tests can be used to assist in the diagnosis, and determine the severity
of cerebral palsy:
Intelligence tests often are
administered to a child with CP to evaluate mental impairment;
An electroencephalogram (EEG) traces
electrical activity in the brain and can reveal patterns that suggest a seizure
disorder;
Imaging tests are helpful in diagnosing
hydrocephalus, structural abnormalities, and tumors. This information can help
the physician assess the child's long-term prognosis;
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a
magnetic field and radio waves to create pictures of the internal structures of
the brain. This study is performed on older children. It defines abnormalities
of white matter and motor cortex more clearly than other methods.
More InformationCerebral palsy diagnosis depends on
many factors, a team of medical professionals can make an accurate diagnosis,
and assist in determining a long-term prognosis for the child. While a medical
diagnosis can be determined, often what caused the cerebral palsy cannot be,
click here to learn more about the
possible causes of CP.
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