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How is Cerebral Palsy Diagnosed?

Parents are usually the first ones to notice that their child has difficulty with motor skills. For example, your child may not sit up or walk as quickly as other children. They may do things slightly differently, such as commando crawl or walk on their toes. It is also common that a doctor or therapist is the first to notice differences in motor function.

Signs of cerebral palsy are present within the first 24 months of life. Cerebral palsy is often suspected as early as six months, but a firm diagnosis is not usually possible until 1-2 years of age.

Once a doctor diagnoses cerebral palsy, they will conduct a careful history looking for gross motor delay and review all aspects of health and development. Next, a physical examination confirms the presence of a neurologic sign, such as tightness in the muscles (spasticity) or increased reflexes. Putting all of this information together, along with risk factors (e.g. prematurity) and results from any tests conducted, allows a diagnosis of cerebral palsy to be made.

Sometimes a child will have pictures taken of the brain, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). This can confirm a difference in one of the areas in the brain, which controls motor function. The decision to proceed with MRI is individualized and can be discussed with your doctor.

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