CEREBRAL PALSY EXAM 2025/2026 QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
Definition & Classification of Cerebral Palsy - "A group of permanent disorders of the
development of movement and posture, causing activity limitations that are attributed to non-
progressive disturbances that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain"
Common comorbidities associated with CP - o Sensation - sensory processing involvement
o Perception
o Cognition
o Communication and speech issues
o Behavior and emotional disorders
o Mental retardation
CP risk increases with ______ - births of multiples (twins, triplets)
The prevalence of CP has _____ (inc/dec) over the last 40 years - increased (due to increase in #
of preterm birth survivals)
The bigger the baby, the _____ (greater/less) chance of having CP - less
What are the most common causes of CP (antenatal, perinatal, or postnatal)?? - Antenatal causes
CP 75% of the time
- vascular infarct, maternal infection, metabolic disorders
Selective neuronal necrosis results from term infants who had _______ - hypoxic ischemic event
(HIE)
Diffuse parasagittal injury (birth asphyxia) leads to: - spastic quadriplegia, mental retardation
Focal ischemic necrosis (CVA) leads to: - spastic hemiplegia; athetosis, ataxia
, Chronic / acute hypoxia (RDS) leads to: - athetosis
athetosis - slow, writhing involuntary movements
Germinal matrix bleed (gm/IVH) leads to: - spastic diplegia
What makes the diagnosis of CP difficult? - the plasticity of the developing brain
What % of Diagnostic Imaging Studies show anomalies (i.e. CP)?? - 70 - 90%
What diagnostic imaging tests are done for CP? - · MRI
· Cranial ultrasound (Through anterior fontenelle - up to 12 mos)
Typical Timing of Diagnosis (for severe, moderate, & mild CP): - - Severe: under 6 months of
age
- Moderate: by 12 months of age - more common time
- Mild: may not be diagnosed until after the child is walking independently - or later!
What % of babies with CP initially demonstrate hypotonia? - 99% of them
CP can be classified by: - topographic distribution, impairment types, brain area involved,
severity, quality of muscle tone, & pathophysiology
Ataxic = - Balance and control disorder
Topographic distribution classification: - § Diplegic (LEs more affected)
§ Hemiplegic (unilateral involvement)
§ Quadriplegic/tetraplegic (all 4 limbs)
§ Monoplegia (rarely reported)
WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
Definition & Classification of Cerebral Palsy - "A group of permanent disorders of the
development of movement and posture, causing activity limitations that are attributed to non-
progressive disturbances that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain"
Common comorbidities associated with CP - o Sensation - sensory processing involvement
o Perception
o Cognition
o Communication and speech issues
o Behavior and emotional disorders
o Mental retardation
CP risk increases with ______ - births of multiples (twins, triplets)
The prevalence of CP has _____ (inc/dec) over the last 40 years - increased (due to increase in #
of preterm birth survivals)
The bigger the baby, the _____ (greater/less) chance of having CP - less
What are the most common causes of CP (antenatal, perinatal, or postnatal)?? - Antenatal causes
CP 75% of the time
- vascular infarct, maternal infection, metabolic disorders
Selective neuronal necrosis results from term infants who had _______ - hypoxic ischemic event
(HIE)
Diffuse parasagittal injury (birth asphyxia) leads to: - spastic quadriplegia, mental retardation
Focal ischemic necrosis (CVA) leads to: - spastic hemiplegia; athetosis, ataxia
, Chronic / acute hypoxia (RDS) leads to: - athetosis
athetosis - slow, writhing involuntary movements
Germinal matrix bleed (gm/IVH) leads to: - spastic diplegia
What makes the diagnosis of CP difficult? - the plasticity of the developing brain
What % of Diagnostic Imaging Studies show anomalies (i.e. CP)?? - 70 - 90%
What diagnostic imaging tests are done for CP? - · MRI
· Cranial ultrasound (Through anterior fontenelle - up to 12 mos)
Typical Timing of Diagnosis (for severe, moderate, & mild CP): - - Severe: under 6 months of
age
- Moderate: by 12 months of age - more common time
- Mild: may not be diagnosed until after the child is walking independently - or later!
What % of babies with CP initially demonstrate hypotonia? - 99% of them
CP can be classified by: - topographic distribution, impairment types, brain area involved,
severity, quality of muscle tone, & pathophysiology
Ataxic = - Balance and control disorder
Topographic distribution classification: - § Diplegic (LEs more affected)
§ Hemiplegic (unilateral involvement)
§ Quadriplegic/tetraplegic (all 4 limbs)
§ Monoplegia (rarely reported)
