Cerebral Palsy

Little babies have a disability at birth, most of which were brought to the doctor between 3 and 18 months by their concerned parents. Although there is no blood test for chemical or cerebral palsy, there are several clinical tests that help establish the diagnosis. As it exists in many children with cerebral palsy a strong dominance of one member over another, these children are likely to express a preference (to be left-handed or right) much earlier than the healthy babies that have no preference in the first year. When a baby always takes the objects of the right hand, even when the object is placed much closer to the left hand is a possible sign of cerebral palsy.

Babies have special reflexes that they lose after a few months, but these reflexes persist longer in children with cerebral palsy. Several tests to assess these reflexes. For example, the Moro reflex pushes the baby to move both arms when lying on his back and that raises his legs above his head. If a baby keeps this reaction well beyond six months is a sign of developmental delay that may evoke cerebral palsy.

Sometimes, medical imaging techniques like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) may show an abscess or other physical brain damage. We must exclude the possibility of a progressive neurological disease. There are also intelligence tests and eye exams and hearing to determine if cerebral palsy is accompanied by other problems.

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