As parents, we are delighted to watch our babies learn and grow. For many parents, the first months and years of a child’s life are both a source of joy and anxiety. This is particularly true if you start to notice that your baby has certain delays or isn’t doing what other kids are doing at a similar age.
Cerebral palsy (CP) is often diagnosed around 18 months of age or older when motor delays become easier to spot. In more severe cases of CP, you may start to see signs as soon as 6 months of age. Once your child has received a diagnosis, the next steps include putting together a treatment team and building a network of support.
Cerebral palsy is often linked to birth injuries. If you believe that your child’s CP diagnosis was caused by medical negligence, the Birth Injury Lawyers Alliance (BILA) can help. Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation with a cerebral palsy lawyer in your province.
When Is Cerebral Palsy Diagnosed?
Cerebral palsy is a movement disorder that can affect people in different ways. It is caused by damage to the developing brain that typically occurs before birth (during pregnancy) or during the labour and delivery process. Depending on the severity of the brain damage, a person with CP might have a mild disability or require lifelong care.
Although there is no cure for cerebral palsy, there are many treatments for the symptoms of this disorder. Getting a CP diagnosis early is important, as it ensures that your child gets the therapies and treatments that they need to live the fullest possible life.
Cerebral palsy is diagnosed using three techniques: developmental monitoring, developmental screening, and developmental and medical evaluations. Each of these assessments can be performed by your child’s pediatrician, and when necessary, by a specialist physician. These evaluations involve:
- Developmental monitoring or surveillance: tracking a child’s growth or development over time at each well-child visit. If there are any concerns about a child’s development, then they may be referred for a more in-depth evaluation.
- Developmental screening: children are generally screened for developmental delays at 9 months, 18 months, and 24 or 30 months. These screenings may include asking questions of parents and/or giving a test to the child.
- Developmental and medical evaluations: if a doctor notes concerns with a child’s development, they will be referred for a more in-depth assessment. A developmental pediatrician will evaluate movement or motor delays by examining a child’s medical history as well as their motor skills, muscle tone, reflexes, and posture. This can help a doctor make a more specific diagnosis of cerebral palsy and/or any related conditions such as intellectual disability, seizures, and vision, speech, and/or hearing problems. To aid in the diagnosis, a doctor may order brain imaging tests such as cranial ultrasound, CT (computerized tomography) scans or MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging), metabolic testing, genetic testing, and/or an EEG (electroencephalogram).
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many children with milder forms of CP are not diagnosed until around 18 months of age. By the time that a child is 30 months of age, most movement delays can be detected. More severe cases of cerebral palsy may be diagnosed as young as 9 months of age.
There are certain early signs of CP that parents can watch for to assist in a diagnosis. This may include:
Under 6 months:
- When held, the baby may overextend their back and neck like they are pushing away;
- The infant may feel stiff or floppy;
- After being picked up from lying on its back, the baby might not lift its head;
- After being picked up, the infant’s legs may be stiff or crossed;
- The baby may have thumbs that are persistently bent towards the palm.
6 to 10 months:
- The baby may struggle to bring their hands together or lift their hands to their mouth;
- The baby develops a handedness earlier than expected – using a right or left hand while keeping the other clenched;
- The baby doesn’t roll over.
10 months and older:
- The baby may continue to favor a specific side of the body, and that results in lopsided crawling;
- The child may scoot around instead of crawling on all fours;
- The child may be unable to stand on their own, even when holding onto support.
Signs at any age:
- Poor balance and muscle coordination;
- Delayed development of motor skills;
- Delayed reactions or clumsiness for their age group;
- Having a different gait or walking pattern;
- Deformities of the joints and bones;
- Decreased muscle mass, abnormal muscle tone, or other soft-tissue problems;
- Muscle spasticity where they experience tight muscles and muscle stiffness;
- Unusual posture;
- Difficulty speaking or understanding language;
- Abnormal patterns of the tongue like thrusting and retracting the tongue;
- Abnormal patterns of the mouth like biting hard and not letting go or frequent grimacing;
- Retaining primitive reflexes past the developmental stage;
- Increased reflexes, exaggerated reflexes, or involuntary movement;
- Stiff muscle movement or floppy muscles;
- Curling the hand into a fist;
- Inability to control the bladder or bowels;
- Sensory difficulties (hearing, vision, or processing disorders);
- Seizures.
If you notice these or other potential symptoms of cerebral palsy in your child, reach out to your pediatrician to schedule a more in-depth evaluation. In addition, if your child was born prematurely or had a low birth weight, they may be at greater risk for a developmental disability. In this situation, your pediatrician should carefully monitor their development for signs of cerebral palsy.
What Happens After a Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis?
Learning that your child has cerebral palsy can be difficult. Even if you suspected that something was wrong, you may still be shocked to learn that they have CP. Once you have the diagnosis, it can be hard to know what to do next.
First, if you need to do so, take some time to grieve. While many people with cerebral palsy live full and productive lives, it can still be a challenge to get them the support that they need. If you are struggling emotionally, remember that it is OK – and even helpful – to take care of yourself so that you can be strong for your little one.
Second, start doing research. There are a lot of great resources out there about cerebral palsy, including support groups, online resources like Facebook groups, and books about CP. You can also check out financial resources offered by different nonprofits and governmental agencies across Canada.
Third, start to build a team. Most children with cerebral palsy see a lot of doctors and other healthcare professionals. Their regular care may include physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and seeing other healthcare professionals like pediatric neurologists. They may also qualify for early intervention services. Once you have a treatment plan in place, you will be able to start putting together a team of medical professionals that can help your child thrive.
Fourth, consider taking legal action. CP can have many causes, including a lack of oxygen at birth that can cause complications such as hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) – a type of brain damage that is associated with CP. In addition, poor prenatal care may cause brain damage if infections or other issues are not diagnosed and treated in time. Our cerebral palsy lawyers will work with you to determine if medical negligence played a role in your child’s diagnosis.
Finally, remember that it will be OK. While it can be hard to raise a child with cerebral palsy, there are also many rewards. By getting the right treatments and therapies in place, you can help your child reach their full potential.
How BILA Can Help
If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, your primary concern will likely be getting them the help that they need. You may not have the time or emotional energy to even think about filing a lawsuit. When you are ready, we are here for you.
If you believe that your baby may have suffered a preventable birth injury that caused their CP, a birth injury lawyer can advise you of your legal options. For help with a potential birth injury claim, call BILA today at 1-800-300-BILA or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free initial consultation with a cerebral palsy lawyer in your province.
Is CP Always Caused By a Birth Injury?
No. There are many possible causes of cerebral palsy, including genetic changes, infections, and strokes. In some cases, CP is not preventable. However, there are situations where medical negligence is the primary cause of the brain damage associated with CP.
For example, if a doctor fails to appropriately monitor a baby’s heart rate during labour and delivery, it may be a form of medical negligence. Similarly, if a doctor doesn’t diagnose and treat a maternal infection promptly, then any infant brain damage that occurs as a result could be the basis of legal action. If you are concerned that your child’s cerebral palsy was caused by medical negligence, reach out to BILA to talk to a birth injury lawyer in your province.
Can My Child’s Cerebral Palsy Be Cured?
No. There is no cure for CP. Instead, treatment options focus on managing symptoms and improving your child’s daily functions. These treatments may include medications, physical therapy to aid in strength, flexibility, and balance, occupational therapy to help your child gain independence, speech and language therapy, recreational therapy, and surgical procedures like selective dorsal rhizotomy to cut nerve fibers.
Early intervention can help to improve your child’s quality of life. While you may not ever be able to completely “fix” issues like muscle stiffness, there are treatments that can help. If you believe that your child’s CP was caused by medical negligence, call BILA to talk to a birth injury lawyer in your province.
Is Cerebral Palsy Hard to Diagnose?
Developmental disorders can be difficult to diagnose, particularly for milder cases. In some cases, it may take years for clear signs of CP to appear. For others, CP symptoms may resemble another developmental delay.
Parents know their children best. If you suspect that something is wrong, don’t hesitate to ask for an evaluation. Once you have a diagnosis, you can reach out to our legal team to schedule a free consultation. BILA will work with you to help you determine if you may be able to pursue legal action for medical negligence.