Is it possible a child can have very late dx of CP?

[lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs]

Dd1 has a dx of HFA which I don't doubt. However she was a very complex pregnancy and birth. She was developmentally delay. Sat at ten month, never crawled and didn't walk till after second birthday.
She had club foot as a baby.
She has had no end of leg trouble which GP hasn't been able to find a reason for and she's in alot of pain.
Her tendons are very tight and we now have referral to physio.
I know it's likely something like Hypo mobility but my family have three children with CP and we are genetically more likely.
Surely there would be more sign right??

I'd say quite possible..
Simply because CP simply means neurological motor impairment! It's not like a disease.. it's damage at some stage of development (or birth trauma), and of course can range from profound to barely detectable.

However I think if you get to school age and no one has diagnosed it it's unlikely to to given as a label if a child is pretty functional.. even if they warrant the diagnosis as much as a similarly impaired child if you kwim!)

My own DS2 comes in to that category.. sat at 1, walked at 2, physical delays.. tight hamstrings and hips and achilles.. wears bilateral hinged AFOs.. no explanation for WHY but his dx are centered around his brain (he is Dx ASD and MLD) and no -one has applied a label to his muscles other that 'low tone' trunk and 'high tone' legs etc

I sometimes think that a better label..C.P would have helped for services, but actually I don't think it does make much difference, and I can't imagine putting him thro an MRI now to look for damage.

There IS a genetic type of CP. Hereditary spastic paraplegia..that runs in families but there is a pretty clear cut diplegic gait.

It wouldn't hurt to ask the physio what she thinks tho :)

Possibly - DD (diagnosed ASD) has an in-toeing gait with extremely tight hamstrings which I know can be a sign of CP. We seen Physio a few weeks back and I asked him if he suspected CP he did a couple of foot movements with her and then said he didn't think so. DD is also behind with sucking and blowing movements.

Physio should certainly be able to advise you and check for other signs. From the research I have done my understanding is that it is possible to be missed especially if it is a mild case.

Its possible, dd1 has similar problems and someone on here (a while ago) mentioned mild CP, getting a pead to listen to you could be a problem, i have been trying to get dd1 referred for 18 months and have got nowhere. All i keep getting told is 'a lot of ASD children have similar problems, its just a part of ASD' ,i dont think so, i think it should be looked into. Dd1 has very poor muscle tone and both feet turn at the ankle.

Apparently CP can be dx anything up to the age of 7 if MRI and difficulties point to CP and neurological damage.

However, borderline cases as Medusa says may never be formally labeled as CP. My dd falls into this category as she is functional despite an MRI showing brain injury. She is also low tone trunk but has slight fluctuating muscle tone in all 4 limbs affecting fine motor skills.

As you say, it may open the door to further services but as long as physio and OT are in place and you don't need to fight for anything else, it may be a choice as to whether you want to pursue a formal dx?

With the tight hamstrings - could it be down to growth spurts? My dd's physio says lots of children come in with this during their childhood and is something they can grow out of.

I doubt its a growth thing, its been ongoing for years, and they have never got to bottom of it, but then she has seen a physio since she was discharged from clubfoot.

As well as MRI there are a few basic simple neuro response things they can do with her in clinic to see if it is likely to be CP.
DS2'S dx was given on history and on physical exam.

They drag the finger along the sole of the foot, correct neuro responses will cause the foot/toes to react in a certain way.
Abnormal can indicate some form of neurological cause for gross motor problems & will usually be followed up by an MRI.
ds2 is 8 now & if you looked at him walking the length of a room you would never suspect CP but it can be very mild & more complex at the same time IYKWIM.