Rehabilitation Medicine Cerebral Palsy Clinic Surrounds Your Child with Care

Our Rehab Medicine Cerebral Palsy Clinic provides comprehensive evaluations and management for children with cerebral palsy and for those with symptoms of cerebral palsy who have yet to be diagnosed. The clinic also evaluates children diagnosed with cerebral palsy outside of Cincinnati Children’s.

Through our Rehab Medicine Cerebral Palsy Clinic, you and your child can meet with a rehabilitation doctor, nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, dietitian, and social worker. Your child will have a thorough physical exam, as well as a strength, mobility, and development evaluation.

In addition, our team may recommend other tests, such as an MRI or genetic testing, which will help us develop a comprehensive treatment plan personalized to your child.

Benefits of Early Diagnosis and Interventions

You may notice certain signs of cerebral palsy when your child is born. But you’re more likely to recognize symptoms when your child begins to miss developmental milestones during or after infancy. By seeking a comprehensive evaluation for your child, you can get answers, peace of mind, and a path forward for your family.

Research shows that early, therapy-based interventions for babies who have cerebral palsy or who are at high risk for cerebral palsy give these babies better outcomes and a greater quality of life. That’s why we recommend having your child evaluated as early as possible—ideally, before 9 months—so they can start specialized therapy.

Children who are diagnosed with cerebral palsy at later ages also benefit from therapy and other interventions. Our team can evaluate, diagnose, and provide personalized treatment plans for children of any age who have cerebral palsy.

When to Seek a Cerebral Palsy Evaluation

If your infant or toddler shows any of the following signs or symptoms, we encourage you to schedule an evaluation with us:

• Has an unusual walking style (bunny hopping, tiptoe walking) or unusual crawling style, such as scooting
• Has stiff, tight (spastic) muscles
• Is not meeting typical milestones for sitting, crawling or walking
• Lacks good muscle control or coordination
• Prefers to use one hand before the age of 18 months

What to Expect

When you have an appointment with the Rehab Medicine Cerebral Palsy Clinic, we’ll ask you questions and listen to your concerns, watch your child at play, and observe them performing specific activities. We’ll provide standardized assessments and evaluate your child’s muscle tone, range of motion, mobility, communication, medical equipment, and other concerns. We’ll also discuss our observations with you and give you options for how we can help your child experience the highest quality of life possible.

At the end of your appointment, we’ll outline our recommendations and give you a written summary. Our treatment recommendations may include:

• Changing your child’s medication
• Making a change to your child’s speech therapy, occupational therapy or physical therapy regimen
• Obtaining new assistive devices or other equipment
• Providing new exercises for your child to do at home
• Referring your child for follow-up care with another specialist, such as an orthopaedic surgeon, ophthalmologist, neurosurgeon or neurologist
• Scheduling a follow-up test
• Scheduling a procedure, such as a Botox injection to treat spasticity
• Sending your child to an orthotist for new braces
• Sharing information with you about resources in the community that can provide education and support