Diagnosis of cerebral palsy

Any parent who is concerned about the development of their child should see their GP (general practitioner, primary care physician) or a pediatrician. In the UK the first person to see would be a GP, in other countries you may be able to go straight to a pediatrician. The doctor will ask the parents about the baby's history and development characteristics. The mother's medical history during her pregnancy will also be examined.
The doctor will examine the child, observing posture, movements, muscle tone, motor skills, and checking the child's reflexes. If the child is a bit older than a baby the doctor may refer the child to an educational psychologist in order to assess his/her intellectual development.
Ruling out other conditions
Other conditions may have similar symptoms and need to be ruled out, such as a tumor or muscular dystrophy. The following tests will help the doctors carry out their diagnosis:
Blood tests
Cranial ultrasound - an ultrasound scan can help doctors see an image of the child's brain tissue
MRI (magnetic resonance image) scan - this uses nuclear magnetic resonance of protons to produce proton density images
CT (computed tomography) scan - a series of X-rays are compiled by the computer to create a 3-D image of the baby's brain
When a child is two to three years old a more comprehensive diagnosis of cerebral palsy can usually be made. However, its severity is not usually fully assessed until the child is about four or five years old.

A diagnosis of cerebral palsy requires regular assessments of the child. The assessments are used to make comparisons and determine what the developmental needs and issues are. A comprehensive and confident diagnosis is possible after time has been taken to carefully assess and evaluate various factors several times.