Cerebral palsy diagnosis

Early identification of infants with cerebral palsy, gives them the opportunity to develop their full potential.
Normally, the first signs of cerebral palsy occur before age 3, and parents are often the first people who suspect their child is not developing normally. To allow a correct cerebral palsy diagnosis a physical examination is needed.

Usually the cerebral palsy diagnosis can not be performed until the child is between 6 and 12 months.
The doctor will check signs like abnormal muscle tone, irregular posture and slow development. Hand preference is a sign that must be observed by the doctor.
Diagnostic tests

Neurological examination is the evaluation of reflexes and motor and brain functions.
Reflexes are movements that the body makes automatically in response to a specific stimulus. For example, if you put the baby on his back and legs over his head, you do the Moro reflex (like a hug). Moro reflex is lost in babies usually after six months. This is just one of several reflexes that the doctor can check.

Other tests

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It is reached, quickly, widely used in the identification of brain disorders. This technique uses a magnetic field and radio waves instead of x-ray. MRI gives better pictures of structures or abnormal areas located than CT.
• Computerized tomography (CT) uses a combination of computer x-rays and technology to produce images of cross sections, both horizontally and vertically. You get detailed images of any part of the body, bones, muscles, fat and organs.
• Ultrasound. This test is not so precise like MRI and CT scanning but it permits detection of the brain structures and cysts. Its disadvantage is that it must be performed in kids before the hardening and closing of the skull.

In order to obtain a correct cerebral palsy diagnosis doctors perform a lot of tests:

• Studies on infant feeding. 
• EEG: is recorded brain electrical activity through electrodes that are attached to the scalp
• Blood tests
• Genetic studies
• Metabolic tests: they are used to evaluate the absence or lack of a specific enzyme necessary to maintain the normal chemical function of the body

 
Prognosis

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong disorder that requires long-term care, but does not affect life expectancy.