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Condition information

Cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy affects movement and posture because of a non-progressive disturbance in the developing brain.

What families may notice

  • Early hand preference, stiffness or floppiness
  • Delayed movement milestones
  • Abnormal posture, walking pattern or coordination

How assessment may help

Assessment describes the movement pattern, associated needs and functional goals. Care is multidisciplinary and may include therapy, equipment, tone management and orthopaedic review.

The child’s own pattern matters. Similar symptoms can have different causes, and tests are selected only after considering the history and examination.

What to bring

  • A referral letter and previous medical reports
  • A current medicine and dose list
  • EEG, MRI or CT reports and the actual images where available
  • School or therapy reports relevant to the concern
  • Safe phone videos of typical episodes, without delaying care or placing the child at risk

Planning the next step

Contact the practice for a non-urgent appointment request. Sudden, severe or rapidly worsening symptoms should be assessed through an emergency service rather than an online form.

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