How to Determine If Child Has Cerebral Palsy

I would definitely keep on the path you're on. Go to the physiatrist!!! They are the best for this diagnosis. It should not take "years" to diagnosis. Typically that type of doctor will diagnosis or not (if that's not it) very quickly. Ours diagnosed it the first visit. It sounds like you are doing what's best for now with the weekly PT appts. and exercises at home.

cdc.gov has alot of useful info in CP. they can tell as early as birth if a child has CP, the thing is if you want them tested that early you have to ask, otherwise they just do the normal screening. i'll be praying very hard it's not that and is just something that's an easy fix. God be with you.

I dont have much experiance with this but i do agree with the other mom that it is likly the brain not muscles alone injured my thought is if there is one around your area but if both of you mothers with these little ones could put them in a hyperbaric (sp) chamber wouldnt that help them????
I dont know how logical it is but i have heard of a family has one in there home for their child and use it on a regular basis their child has shown lot of improvment with these treatments??
Good Luck and best wishes

Hi. My son has a mild case of Cp. It effects is lower body more then the rest, and his right side more then the left. In his case he has increased muscle tone. He is two and was diagnosed at about 1 yr. I was told that the only doctor that could make the offical diagnosis is a neurologist. My son was born @ thirty weeks. And was in a NICU for about 5 weeks. He had some heart problems and apnea as well as jaundice. Which is common with premies. HE almost came home on oxygen and had an enlarged ventricle on his brain. They acually did a MRI of his brain to diagnose him with cp. They had to but him to sleep it was like a mini surgery. Since then he has been in PT, Ot and Speech. He also has botox injection to help loosen his muscles. I'm lucky that in my area we have a program called fairhaven. He goes to there early intervention program. It's like preschool for children with disabilities and he gets extra therapy there. You may want to see if your area has a program like that. They can evaluate and start before a diagnosis is even made. It only took a couple of month to get the diagnosis after we started the process. In the mean time I would fill out papers with your local social secrity office. You maybe able to get some benifets for him. They do help out with the medical which you will need if he is diagnosed and the sooner you get started the better.

Try calling Redwood, in Ft. Mitchell, KY. It is a center for children and adults with disabilities, they can diagnose a disability and provide support, resources, therapy and childcare. Best of luck with this.