Cerebral Palsy Tests
Diagnosing cerebral palsy typically involves tests that help to rule out other conditions. For instance, one of the early signs of cerebral palsy is delayed development and doctors will often use reflex tests or tests of motor skills to determine if a child is meeting important developmental milestones.
However, there is no single test that can alone determine a diagnosis of cerebral palsy. Physicians generally rely on a battery of cerebral palsy tests to reach a definitive diagnosis. One reason for this is that some conditions share symptoms similar to those associated with cerebral palsy, and performing multiple tests helps doctors rule out other possibilities.
Cerebral Palsy Tests: Looking for Brain Damage
Though medical experts have yet to uncover all the causes of cerebral palsy, the primary cause of the condition is always damage to the brain. This damage often occurs for unknown reasons during fetal development, but it may also occur during delivery or early infancy and childhood.
Because doctors may need to identify any damaged areas of the brain, brain scans are commonly used when testing for cerebral palsy. Types of brain scans include:
Cranial ultrasound is an imaging technique used to visualize the soft tissues of the brain. This type of cerebral palsy test may be performed if an infant is born prematurely and faces a heightened risk of developing the condition.
Computed tomography, or CT scan, may be used to create a picture of the brain from various angles.
Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, provides the most detailed image of the brain using radio waves and a strong magnet.
Electroencephalogram, or EEG, is used to measure electrical activity in the brain. An EEG may be performed if the infant has suffered seizures, which are sometimes associated with cerebral palsy.
Other Cerebral Palsy Tests
Additional tests that may help to determine or rule out a cerebral palsy diagnosis include:
- Blood tests
- Genetic tests
- Metabolic tests
- Vision testing
- Hearing test
Each child’s condition is unique and the tests a physician uses to diagnose a patient with cerebral palsy may vary accordingly. In some cases, a second opinion may be necessary to confirm a diagnosis.
After Cerebral Palsy Tests: What Next?
Cerebral palsy tests do not necessarily help parents understand why their child has developed the condition. In most cases, there are no easy or clear answers. In others, however, the condition can be traced directly to an act of medical negligence. If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, ask yourself a few questions:
- Was your child born after a difficult labor?
- Was your child deprived of oxygen at any point during labor and delivery?
- Were forceps, vacuum extraction or unnecessary force used during delivery?
Negligence can take many forms and if you have any questions about whether negligence played a part in your child’s situation, you should discuss your case with an experienced attorney. At Burke & Eisner, we represent victims of medical malpractice and we’ll be glad to evaluate your claim at no cost to you. Contact us today.
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