Cerebral Palsy

[alisha.ridenour]

I have a son that was born at 26 weeks gestation. He had a grade 3+ bilateral brain bleed at birth, and he underwent shunt placement. We were told that he had a large chance of having CP from the damage that was caused. We went from a large city hospital to a very rural hospital, and what I am now believing is a less than qualified pediatrician. He did not crawl until he was 18 months old, and did not walk until 21 months. He did not talk until he was two. Time went on, and I found a program that a PT would come and see him until he was 4. He had some developmental delays and some issues with tone, but the majority of his trouble was with fine motor skills.
When he got in school, we no longer were qualified for the program he was in for physical therapy He goes every other year for a CT to check shunt placement. From the time that we left the hospital he was born at, CP has never been mentioned again, except for a pediatric PT that we met one day at his school. She was a mom, and she asked me if I ever notice how he kept his head cocked to the side all the time. Since that discussion a year ago, I am noticing alot. He has always been extremely clumsy. He has no depth perception (diagnosed by an eye doctor). He does not run well at all. He struggles to write. He cannot shoot a basketball because the extension of his arms isn't there. He cannot tie his shoes or button buttons and he is 8 now. He has no balance (he can't stand on one foot or ride a bike). He has severe texture sensitivities in food. He will not eat meat or most fruits and veggies for that matter. (This is so bad, he throws up if you force the issue.) I have read many articles about CP and consulted with his doctor. She thinks I am paranoid, but I really feel like something isn't right. He isn't like the other kids in his classes, and I don't believe it is just coincidence. Can anyone help me? What steps do I need to go through to see if he really does need to be diagnosed with mild CP? Any information that anyone could provide would be greatly appreciated.

[grandmadenise]

hi, my name is Denise and I have a grandson with CP. have you ever taken your son to a pediatric neurologist? They have some good ones at Childrens Hospitals. I live in Tacoma, Wa. where are you?