Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis and Treatments | Gillette Children’s …

No single test can be used to diagnose cerebral palsydiagnosis involves understanding your childs medical history and identifying symptoms consistent with the condition. Diagnosing cerebral palsy as soon as possible ensures early intervention and a lifetime of excellent medical care.

In some cases, cerebral palsy is diagnosed shortly after birth. Babies born prematurely or who have other significant risk factors are most likely to receive an early diagnosisoften via an MRI study that shows injury to the brain. A neurological exam with abnormal results also helps support an early diagnosis.

With an early diagnosis, your baby might receive evaluations or consultations while still in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Once your baby comes home from the hospital, regular visits with cerebral palsy specialists play an important role in maximizing your childs health and abilities.

Most often, children receive a cerebral palsy diagnosis when they are age 1 to 3. Children diagnosed as a toddler usually have a birth and medical history that increases their risk of cerebral palsy. Symptoms at birth, however, might not be clear enough to warrant an early diagnosis.

You might suspect cerebral palsy if your child misses milestones (such as sitting up or crawling) or shows other symptoms consistent with the condition. Your pediatrician or family practitioner might diagnose your child with cerebral palsyor they might send you to a specialty center like Gillette for evaluation.

Although the situation is rare, some children receive a cerebral palsy diagnosis after age 3. In such cases, providers might have missed very mild cerebral palsy symptoms, or your child might have failed to outgrow what was thought to be another condition (such as idiopathic toe walking).

In addition, children older than age 1 can develop symptoms similar to those of cerebral palsy if they sustain traumatic brain injuries, experience a lack of oxygen, or contract an infection such as meningitis. Children whose injuries occur when they are older typically receive a diagnosis of brain injury rather than cerebral palsy.

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Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis and Treatments | Gillette Children's ...