A cerebral palsy diagnosis is made through a series of testing that involves a full examination of a mother and child’s medical background, testing of a child’s motor sensory skills and reflexes, and a number of other special exams such as MRIs and CT scans. During the cerebral palsy diagnosis process, a doctor is looking for early signs of the condition such as unusual muscle tone, abnormal posture, slow developmental skills, and more.

Cerebral palsy diagnosis exams are not always able to determine whether or not medical malpractice was a factor in your child’s condition. A more thorough investigation is usually required to determine if another party’s negligence or wrongdoing caused your child to develop cerebral palsy.

Please contact us today to speak with a qualified medical malpractice attorney who can help investigate your case and protect your legal rights and interests.

Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis Tests

• Reflexes – A doctor may begin a cerebral palsy diagnosis by testing the infant’s reflexes. The Moro Reflex, in which a newborn’s arms automatically extend if the legs are tilted over the head, usually disappears by six months of age. However, newborns with cerebral palsy may have the Moro Reflex for longer than six months. Other reflexes such as rooting and plantar reflexes may also be tested during the evaluation.
• Hand preference – Most people prefer to use one hand over the other to complete tasks. However, this preference doesn’t usually develop in healthy children until after their first year. Children with cerebral palsy, especially those with spastic hemiplegia, may develop a hand preference early because the side of their body not affected by the condition is stronger. A doctor may perform a hand preference test, which involves holding an object to one side of the child to determine which hand they favor.

• Special cerebral palsy diagnosis tests  
• CT scan – Involves taking pictures of your child’s brain tissue and structure with special X-rays and computer technologies to determine areas of underdevelopment and damage.
• MRI – Magnetic resonance imaging tests use radio waves and magnetic energy to take pictures of the brain structure. These photos give a clear image of the various abnormalities that may be seen near the bones.
• Ultrasound – Forms an image of the brain using sound waves to offer more information about the condition.
• EEG – This cerebral palsy diagnosis test is sometimes used to measure the amount of electrical activity in a child’s brain to determine the presence of a seizure disorder—a common effect of cerebral palsy.

If you suspect your child’s cerebral palsy was the result of medical malpractice, you may be eligible to recover your losses including past and future medical expenses, lost income capacity, pain and suffering, and more.

Please contact us today to learn more about cerebral palsy diagnosis or to speak with a qualified and caring medical malpractice attorney who can help you and your family get the compensation you deserve.