Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common lifelong physical disability. It is defined as a non-progressive disorder of movement originating from neural lesions in the perinatal period, and is associated with a wide range of common comorbidities in many individuals. These include problems speaking, hearing, seeing, thinking, feeding and controlling their bladder. People with CP often have additional challenges such as behavioural and emotional issues, pain, and poor sleep. Many of these challenges respond well to intervention in early childhood, as brain plasticity is at its greatest in the first 2 years of life. However, in most clinical settings, the age for diagnosis of CP is between 24 to 29 months, after this window of neurodevelopmental opportunity.

This project will aim to improve the Early Detection of Cerebral Palsy in Ireland. This will be achieved by implementing an evidence-based approach to follow-up of High risk infants.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Legal guardians must be able and willing to give written informed consent and to comply with the requirements of this study protocol.

• All infants considered high risk for cerebral palsy and neuro-developmental impairment will be eligible, specifically including:

  • All preterm infants born ≤32 weeks Post Menstrual Age or ≤1500 gm birth weight
  • All encephalopathic infants
  • Neurological risk factors (e.g., injury/malformation on neuroimaging, persistently abnormal neurological exam)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Death prior to discharge from the neonatal unit.

Newborns at high risk of developing CP will be identified and consented for inclusion prior to discharge from the Neonatal unit. Approximately 1500 infants will be recruited nationally over the study period from Cork University Maternity Hospital, University Maternity Hospital Limerick, The Coombe Hospital, The Rotunda Hospital and the National Maternity Hospital.