Sensory disorders in cerebral palsy: two-point discrimination

Two-point discrimination (TPD) was measured on eight points of the upper extremities of 220 children with cerebral palsy aged between seven and 14 years. 46 had classical diplegia, 23 had mildly spastic diplegia (without adductor spasms), 86 had hemiplegia, 26 had generalized dyskinesia, 10 had right- and four had left-sided hemiathetosis and 25 had quadriplegia. TPD was decreased in all cases compared with normal controls: slightly more for the classical forms of diplegia and on the paretic side of those with hemiplegia, slightly less in athetoid children. This adds further evidence to the authors' previous observations that sensory disorder is an integral part of the clinical picture of cerebral palsy.