At What Age Can You Diagnose Cerebral Palsy?

Most cases of cerebral palsy (CP) are diagnosed by the time a child is two years old. When a baby is severely impaired, they may be diagnosed at birth. This is especially true for premature babies, who are monitored for signs of the condition. In cases of mild impairment, CP may not be diagnosed until the child’s brain is fully developed. This happens between three and five years of age.

If you have any concerns about your child’s development, it’s important to contact your pediatrician as soon as possible. According to an Iowa Cerebral Palsy Lawyer, even if a doctor suspects your baby has CP, it may take time for it to be officially diagnosed or to discover the extent of the damage.

Early intervention has helped many kids with cerebral palsy to reach their full potential. The key here is the word “early.” The sooner you get started, the better shot your child will have at being able to function independently, play and make friends, and learn and develop.

How Babies and Kids Get Cerebral Palsy

If you are wondering if your baby has cerebral palsy, chances are you’re also wondering how they got it. Cerebral palsy may be caused by:

• Brain infections in a developing fetus or an infant
• Brain abnormalities and malformations that happened during a fetus’s development
• Brain injuries that often take place during a difficult birth
• Preventable medical mistakes that caused damage to a newborn’s brain

Acquired cerebral palsy can be the result of brain damage that took place after a baby was born but before their brain finished developing. This can be caused by incidents that cause the brain to hit the inside of the skull forcefully like car accidents, falls, and child abuse. Because of this, it is often easier for physicians to identify the cause of acquired CP.

Cerebral palsy is a non-progressive disorder. That means the level of impairment of your baby or child won’t get any worse. Although symptoms may improve with treatment, CP can’t be cured because brain injuries can’t be fixed.

You Did Not Cause Your Child’s Cerebral Palsy

Whenever a child has a disability, it’s natural for parents to feel guilty and wonder if they are responsible. Some parents may also harbor resentment because they blame each other. In other cases, one parent may be in denial about the fact that their child may have an impairment while the other parent is ready to go seek treatment.

The truth is, in most cases, there is nothing parents could have done to prevent their child’s CP.

Cerebral palsy is not genetic. Your child didn’t inherit CP from either one of you. However, your baby may have inherited certain genes that influenced how susceptible it will be to developing the condition after sustaining a brain injury.

Complications and medical mistakes that took place during birth are also usually out of the mother’s control. Even if a doctor’s mistake that caused your baby’s brain injury could have been prevented, could it have been prevented by you while you were in labor? Probably not.

Now is the time to focus on what you can do for your child instead of worrying about what you did or did not do. You are doing the best you can, and your child will know this and see it in your actions.

What to Do Next

The first thing you should do if you suspect your baby may have cerebral palsy is to go to your pediatrician with your concerns. This will get the ball rolling on your baby’s evaluation and possible referral to other specialists. Your doctors will be able to direct you to resources that can help you manage your child’s condition.

Next, you’ll want to begin building a support system of friends and family members who can help you when you need it. (Spoiler alert: you’re going to need it.) Over time, your support network may include a variety of therapists and respite care providers. Having the support of as many people as possible will be a huge benefit to you and your child as they grow and develop.