Signs and Symptoms
While most cases of cerebral palsy are detected between the ages of one and two, the Mayo Clinic states that if symptoms and signs are mild, a diagnosis may not be made until the child is four or five. Symptoms and signs may range from mild to severe, and there are a wide variety of symptoms. Specific physical symptoms that a doctor will look for are spasticity or lack of muscle coordination, an asymmetrical gait when the child is walking and a dragging foot or leg. In addition, there may be muscle tone that is too floppy or too stiff as well as difficulty swallowing, speaking or sucking. Other signs are excessive drooling, difficulty with fine motor controls (such as buttoning a shirt) and tremors. A doctor will also check the child's motor reflexes, and she will usually check for hand preference to gauge whether one hand is abnormally weaker than the other.
Brain Scan Tests
If the pediatrician suspects cerebral palsy, she may order one or several types of brain scan tests to confirm her suspicions. According to the 4MyChild website, the accepted brain scan tests for detecting cerebral palsy are the cranial ultrasound to take pictures of the soft tissues in the skull, the computed tomography (CT) scan which gives cross-section pictures of the child's brain, and the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, which produces detailed images of the child's brain.
Other Tests
Your child's pediatrician may require other tests to eliminate other disorders and illnesses that may show the same symptoms as cerebral palsy. These tests may include an electroencephalogram (EEG) to record the electrical impulses of the brain and blood work to rule out conditions such as blood-clotting disorders that may cause strokes. In addition, the doctor may test for metabolic and genetic disorders. A key step in detecting cerebral palsy is to determine that the symptoms are not getting worse over time, as cerebral palsy is not progressive. This may entail repeating tests over a period of time to chart the child's progress.
