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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffIf your child has cerebral palsy, how you learn about your child's condition may depend on the severity of the disabilities, when problems first appeared, and whether there were any risk factors during the pregnancy or delivery.
Well-baby visits
It's important to take your child to all regularly scheduled well-baby visits and annual appointments during childhood. These visits are an opportunity for your child's doctor to monitor your child's development in key areas, including:
- Growth
- Muscle tone
- Muscle strength
- Coordination
- Posture
- Age-appropriate motor skills
- Sensory abilities, such as vision, hearing and touch
Your doctor may ask you several questions during appointments, including:
- What concerns do you have about your child's growth or development?
- How well does he or she eat?
- How does your child respond to touch?
- Do you observe any favoring of one side of the body?
- Is your child reaching certain milestones in development, such as rolling over, pushing up, sitting up, crawling, walking or speaking?
Talking to your doctor about cerebral palsy
If your family doctor or pediatrician believes that your child exhibits signs of cerebral palsy, you may want to discuss the following questions:
- What diagnostic tests will we need?
- When will we know the results of the tests?
- What specialists will we need to see?
- How will we screen for disorders commonly associated with cerebral palsy?
- How will you monitor my child's health and development?
- Can you suggest educational materials and local support services regarding cerebral palsy?
- Can my child be followed through a multidisciplinary program that addresses all of his or her needs on the same visit, such as a cerebral palsy clinic?
- Cerebral palsy: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cerebral_palsy/detail_cerebral_palsy.htm. Accessed May 8, 2013.
- Shelov SP, et al. Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5. 5th ed. New York, N.Y.: Bantam Books; 2009:1.
- Miller G. Epidemiology and etiology of cerebral palsy. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed May 22, 2013.
- Miller G. Diagnosis and classification of cerebral palsy. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed May 22, 2013.
- Miller G. Clinical features of cerebral palsy. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed May 22, 2013.
- Rubella: Make sure your child gets vaccinated. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Rubella/. Accessed May 23, 2013.
- Chickenpox (varicella). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/about/overview.html. May 23, 2013.
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and congenital CMV infection: Pregnancy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/cmv/risk/preg-women.html. Accessed May 23, 2013.
- Parasites: Toxoplasmosis (toxoplasma infection). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/. Accessed May 23, 2013.
- Syphilis: CDC fact sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/STDFact-Syphilis.htm. Accessed May 23, 2013.
- Meningitis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/index.html. Accessed May 23, 2013.
- Neurological diagnostic tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed May 24, 2013.
- Miller G. Management and prognosis of cerebral palsy. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed May 22, 2013.
- Riggin EA. Decision Support System. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. May 23, 2013.
- Kotagal S (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 24, 2013.
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