Cognitive assessment practices of children with cerebral palsy: a national cohort study

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) are at risk of cognitive impairments. Cognitive assessments identify support needs. However, not all children with CP are assessed. This study investigates if there are systematic differences between children with CP cognitively assessed and not assessed. Children registered in the Norwegian Quality and Surveillance Registry for Cerebral Palsy born 2002–2014 were included. Of the 1532 children included, 972 (63.4%) had a cognitive assessment. Children with Motor Ability Classification System levels IVV and/or Viking Speech Scale level IV were less likely to be assessed. It is disconcerting that children with CP and the most severe impairments are less likely to be offered assessments, given their needs for individually tailored interventions.