| In order to properly diagnose cerebral palsy (CP) | | | | persist into early childhood they need to be taken for |
| there needs to be a series of tests run. The tests | | | | these tests. |
| consist of many physical and neurological tests. A | | | | Hand preference test - After one year of age a child |
| child is usually diagnosed at an early stage because | | | | normally will favor one hand over the other however |
| the symptoms become more evident then. For | | | | if you child is showing hand preference before age |
| example, delays in a child's development and | | | | one it can be a symptom of cerebral palsy. In cases |
| problems moving are the first signs that are | | | | where children have hemiplegia, one side of the body |
| connected to cerebral palsy. These can be | | | | is stronger. |
| recognized within the first couple years after birth. If | | | | Computed tomography, CT scan - CT scans are |
| your child if experiencing developmental delays or | | | | used to take images of the brain. Doctors can |
| other abnormal symptoms you need to take your | | | | determine any lack of development or damage to |
| child to see a medical specialist to be evaluated. | | | | the brain. |
| What is Cerebral Palsy? | | | | Electroencephalography, EEG - With this test doctors |
| CP is a group of disorders affecting a person's | | | | can identify the presence of any seizures. Seizures |
| movements. What actually causes brain damage is | | | | are common in cerebral palsy. |
| unknown however CP is caused by damage to the | | | | Magnetic resonance imaging, MRI - MRI scans are |
| brain. In some situations brain damage can occur | | | | given to test any abnormalities in the brain. |
| during labor and delivery. This is called medical | | | | Other tests may be given depending on your child's |
| malpractice. | | | | symptoms. A physical exam will be given and the |
| Every year thousands of babies and children get | | | | tone of their muscles will be looked at and other |
| diagnosed with CP. In some of these cases, the | | | | developmental delays along with their medical history |
| condition could have been prevented if proper | | | | all will be considered. |
| procedures were followed. | | | | After a Diagnosis |
| How is Cerebral Palsy Diagnosed? | | | | If your child has received a CP diagnosis and it is |
| Diagnosing CP requires a series of tests performed | | | | possible the injury occurred during or after birth you |
| by a doctor. The following tests listed are used to | | | | should take your case to a medical malpractice |
| make a diagnosis: | | | | attorney. They will evaluate your case for free and if |
| Reflex tests - Plantar, Moro Reflex, and rooting | | | | they determine the cause of your child's condition |
| flexes are tests given to diagnose CP. For instance, | | | | was medical neglect they will then advise you of |
| infants experience the Moro Reflex (a kind of reflex) | | | | your legal rights. |
| when they are startled, however if the reflexes | | | | |