How Is Cerebral Palsy Diagnosed? 2

Doctors diagnose cerebral palsy by obtaining a complete medical history of development and examining the
child, paying special attention to the child’s movements. In addition to checking for the most common
symptoms -- such as slow development, abnormal muscle tone, and unusual posture -- a doctor also has to
make sure the child doesn’t have something else that could cause similar symptoms.
Some children have hypotonia, which means that their muscles are too relaxed. In this case, the baby may
seem floppy. Other children have hypertonia which makes their muscles seems stiff. Sometimes a child can
have hypotonia that later become hypertonia two to 24 months after birth. Children may also have unusual
posture or favor one side of their body.
What’s most important to the doctor is making sure that the child's condition is not getting worse. Although
cerebral palsy symptoms may change over time, children with cerebral palsy do not usually lose function.
 That means, if a child does seem to be losing motor skills, the problem is probably not cerebral palsy. It
more likely a genetic or muscle disease, a metabolism disorder, or tumors in the nervous system. A
complete medical history, special medical tests, and, in some cases, repeated check-ups can help confirm
whether or not the child has cerebral palsy for certain.
Once the diagnosis of cerebral palsy has been made based on medical history and physical examination,
your doctor may order tests to try to figure out the cause of the cerebral palsy (Ashwal et al., 2004). Tests
(like MRI scans), that allow doctors to look into the brain, can find problems that may be able to be treated.
If it is cerebral palsy, an MRI scan can also show a doctor the location and type of injury to the brain.
Some other tests a doctor might order include:
• Cranial ultrasound. This test is used for high-risk premature infants because it is the least intrusive
of the imaging techniques. However, it is not as effective as the two methods described below at
seeing small changes in “white matter” – which is the type of brain tissue that is effected in cerebral
palsy.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan. This technique creates images that shows brain injury.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. This test uses a computer, a magnetic field, and
radio waves to create a picture of the brain's tissues and structures. Doctors prefer MRI imaging
because it offers better detail and does not involve radiation.