Cerebral palsy, or CP, is a group of chronic movement or posture disorders. This condition is not caused by problems with the muscle, but with the brain's ability to control the body. According to United Cerebral Palsy Research and Educational Foundation, or UCP, there are four different CP types: athetoid or dyskinetic CP, where the patients has involuntary or uncontrolled movements; spastic CP, where the patient has stiff movements, atalix CP, where the patient loses balance and depth perception, and mixed CP, where the patient has symptoms from at least two subtypes. CP can be caused by injury during labor, or soon after it. CP symptoms typically appear during the first few years of life. Most children get diagnosed with CP by the time they are two years old, says the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Motor Skills Tests
Since the muscle problems are a hallmark symptom of CP, motor skills tests are typically among the first ones that a doctor is going to perform says the Mayo Clinic. For example, a doctor will test whether or not a child shows a preference to use only the left or right hand. Typically, children do not show such a preference during the first year of life, but infants with CP may develop a preference much earlier, since one hand is stronger than the other. Doctors also test reflexes, or movements that the body makes automatically in response to a cue. Infants with CP may retain certain reflexes longer than typically developing infants. One of the newest testing methods is a gait analysis that uses electronic imaging of a walking patient says the UCP. Doctors also test for abnormal muscle tone and unusual postures.
Brain Structure Tests
Neuroimaging methods such as magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, can be used to study the brain structures and brain maturity of a child. These kinds of imaging methods give the doctor a clear picture of the soft tissues of the brain. The tests are safe and non-invasive, but to get reliable results the patient has to be perfectly still during the scanning. Thus, a doctor is likely to want to anesthetize a young child for the short period of time it takes to perform the test, says the website Radiology.info.
Other Conditions Linked to CP
CP may be associated with problems with vision or hearing, seizure disorders, or mental impairments says the UCP. Ifa child's physician suspects any of these, he is likely to order additional tests for them. For example, to find out if a child might have a seizure disorder, a doctor might order an electroencephalogram, or EEG, test. This test investigates the electrical activation of the brain by placing electrodes on the child's head. It is a safe and painless test for the child. A psychologist may also test the child's intelligence, but one must take into account that a child with CP may do poorly on these tests due to his vision or motor problems even if he has a normal IQ.
Ruling out Other Disorders
Doctors also need to rule out other conditions that might cause movement problems. For example, CP does not get worse over time. Thus, it is crucial for the doctor to see the patient several times over a long period of time to make sure that his symptoms do not get worse. If they do, it is likely that the child does not have CP but some other condition.
