|  | Conditions Treatments | Disabilities

Radiology & Cerebral Palsy

Signs of cerebral palsy are often seen in the first few years of life, but this can vary from child to child, and diagnosis must be made by a medical doctor. Tools such as magnetic resonance imaging -- MRI -- or other types of radiology, are used to establish a definitive diagnosis.

  1. Cerebral Palsy

    • According to WebMd.com, cerebral palsy is a syndrome that affects muscle reflex and coordination, and can result in speech problems. Cerebral palsy is one of the most common causes of childhood disability, and it is the result of an injury to the brain occurring before, or during, birth.

    Diagnosis through Radiology

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, radiological procedures are commonly used to diagnose cerebral palsy. An MRI is used to produce digital images of the brain, and a similar test, called a cranial ultrasound, provides pictures of brain tissue through high frequency sound waves. A computed tomography -- CT -- scan can be used to obtain cross-sectional views of multiple brain areas. The doctor or radiologist will then view the results to discover where abnormalities lie.

    Considerations

    • An MRI is quite noisy, and this should be explained to the child so that he is not frightened of the sounds. All the tests are painless, but depending on the child's age, it may be difficult for him to understand the importance of being still throughout the procedure. If this becomes problematic, the doctor will prescribe a light sedative.

Disabilities - Related Articles