CEREBRAL PALSY SYMPTOMS

The existence of some of the cerebral palsy symptoms outlined below does not necessarily mean that a child has CP. Children under the age of six months with CP may demonstrate some or all of the following:

Trembling of the arms and legs
Hand held in tight fist
Irritability
Lethargy
Feeding difficulties
Seizures, staring spells, eye fluttering or body twitching
Abnormal crying
Abnormal posture
Changing muscle tone from floppy to very stiff
Abnormal reflexes
Poor muscle tone
Asymmetry of movement

Other conditions may mimic cerebral palsy symptoms and certain tests are used to reach a definite diagnosis prior to starting treatment:

Chromosome analysis may show genetic problems.
Thyroid function tests may reveal low levels of thyroid hormone causing congenital defects and mental retardation.
An electroencephalogram (EEG) can reveal a seizure disorder.
Declining motor skills may indicate genetic disease, muscle or metabolic disorder, or tumour in the nervous system.
Imaging tests may diagnose hydrocephalus, structural abnormalities, and tumours.
Ultrasound can detect cysts and abnormal structures in the brain.
Electromyography and nerve conduction studies can identify a nerve or muscle disorder.
A head CT scan can show congenital malformations, haemorrhage, and periventricular leukomalacia in infants.
A high level of ammonia in the blood is toxic to the central nervous system.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) defines abnormalities of white matter and motor cortex.

Children over the age of six months with CP are often slow to reach developmental milestones and parents are more likely to notice if this is not their first child. The medical profession is reluctant to make an early diagnosis of CP based on the existence of clear cerebral palsy symptoms as the child's central nervous system may recover and instead of using the term ‘CP’ at the outset, doctors and consultants may use broader terms such as:

Developmental delay
Central nervous system dysfunction
Static encephalopathy
Motor disability
Neuromotor dysfunction

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