Early detection and diagnosis

Getting the right diagnosis early means your child can start with appropriate interventions and supports to reach their best potential.

Receiving any type of diagnosis can be hard. When parents first learn about cerebral palsy, they can feel many different emotions and thoughts.

Cerebral palsy is a term used to describe a group of physical disorders that impact a person’s movement and posture. Cerebral palsy can arise from an injury to the developing brain. Currently there are no tests to detect cerebral palsy while a baby is still in the womb. However, there are certain things that can happen during pregnancy, birth, or after the baby is born that could increase the risk of cerebral palsy.

If a baby has any of these risk factors, specialist tests and assessment can be done around three months after birth to see if they are at risk or have cerebral palsy.

“At risk” means that it’s uncertain if the baby has cerebral palsy, but they can still receive interventions and other supports designed for babies with cerebral palsy.

To learn more about how we can support you, please contact our friendly team

Call 1300 888 378

How we can help

What we help with

CPA Early Diagnosis Clinic is a specialist clinic for babies at high risk of cerebral palsy. The clinic is supported by CPA donors and its fundraising efforts. Its goal is to speed up the process of diagnosing cerebral palsy and provide families with early interventions and support. This can help achieve better outcomes for the future.

The diagnosis and intervention recommendations for infants and young babies these include:

Assessment of the baby’s:
- Communication skills and development
- Feeding skills
- Neurological function
- Physical skills and development
CPA Babies at Risk Program
Early intervention planning and services
Information resources about cerebral palsy

Liaison with medical professionals and teams

Parent and family support
Referral pathways and support
Support for parents/ carers wellbeing

Who can help

Our highly specialised and dedicated staff advocate for early detection and diagnosis of cerebral palsy and provide early intervention and support.

You can work with our:

Occupational therapists
Physiotherapists
Speech pathologists

How we can help

We offer a blended model of services tailored to the individual needs of babies and their families.

Appointments may be arranged:

At your local centre;
In your home;
In your local community
Or via Telepractice

Funding supports

Your child may be eligible to join the National Disability Insurance Scheme. If you have a funding package from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), we can work with you to maximise the benefits.

You can purchase supports using your:

Capacity Building budget
- Improved Daily Living (15)

CPA Babies at Risk Program: A free short-term service provided by CPA, to children under 2 years of age, who have been given a diagnosis of at risk of Cerebral Palsy. The program is funded through fundraising and aims to assist families in accessing NDIS funding. This service is in place until a NDIS plan is approved. Please contact CPA for information on what services are provided under this short-term program.