Early Detection & Early Intervention

Detecting, diagnosing, and intervening early to make a lifetime of difference for children with cerebral palsy and their families

The first two years of life are the most vital for a child’s development, when neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to repair itself and adapt to injury – is at its peak.

Unfortunately, many children with cerebral palsy aren’t diagnosed until the second year of life. Our Early Detection & Intervention team are dedicated to changing this.

Our team of therapists and scientists work with a global network of researchers to make breakthroughs in early diagnosis of CP and then harness the principles of neuroplasticity to treat infants with evidence-based treatments when they have the greatest impact, early in life.

Our team led the development of International Clinical Practice Early Diagnosis Guidelines for infants who are at risk or have a CP diagnosis. The guidelines make strong recommendations for a major change in standard diagnostic practice for young children and have recently been complemented by an international guideline for early intervention aiming to optimise neuroplasticity, prevent common secondary impairments and enhance parent wellbeing.

The Early Diagnosis & Early Intervention program also play an important role supporting our Early Diagnosis Clinics, a network of three centres operated in partnership with NSW Health. Clinics in Randwick, western Sydney and the Hunter have supported hundreds of families since 2018.

Since the launch of the first CPA Early Diagnosis Clinic in 2018, we have supported almost 500 infants and their families across three sites across NSW