How is Cerebral Palsy Diagnosed?

Diagnosing Cerebral Palsy

A physician may suspect cerebral palsy in a child whose development of these skills is delayed. In making a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, the physician takes into account the delay in developmental milestones as well as physical findings that might include abnormal muscle tone, abnormal movements, abnormal reflexes and persistent infantile reflexes. The doctor also will take a careful medical history and attempt to rule out any other disorders that could be causing the symptoms. Brain tumors, bone deformities, allergies, and other problems have similar symptoms. 

Parents may become concerned about their baby’s or toddler’s development if the child is having problems learning to roll over, sit, crawl or walk. The doctor will evaluate the child’s muscle tone, which can make the child appear floppy, stiff, or a combination variable muscle tone increased (stiff) at times and low (floppy) at other times. 

Diagnosing cerebral palsy can be difficult, especially before the child's first birthday.  In fact, diagnosing cerebral palsy can involve a period of waiting for the definite and permanent appearance of specific motor problems. Most children with cerebral palsy can be diagnosed by the age of 18 months.

Signs of Cerebral Palsy

An infant with cerebral palsy may:

• Have persistence of certain reflexes, called primitive reflexes, that are normal in younger infants, but usually disappear by 6 to 12 months of age. Abnormal primitive reflexes are involuntary responses to certain kinds of stimulation from the environment. For example, a very exaggerated startle response to a loud noise or sudden movement;
• Develop early hand preference. While most babies do not develop a hand preference (become right- or left-handed) until at least 12 months of age, some babies with cerebral palsy do so before six months of age;
• Have an abnormal high-pitched cry;
• Have poor feeding abilities due to difficulty sucking or swallowing;
• Use one side of the body more than the other;
• Have spasticity of some muscles;
• Lack energy, or be lethargic;
• Have seizures (staring spells, eye fluttering, changes in consciousness, body twitching);
• Be difficult to wake
• Have vision and hearing problems;
• Be unusually tense and irritable.

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