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Aim: To investigate trends in birth prevalence of cerebral palsy (CP) overall and by gestational age, and examine the distribution of motor type, spastic topography, and severity using Australian CP Register data from 1995 to 2009.Method: Prenatal and perinatal CP data were collated from state/territory CP registers. Birth prevalence estimates per 1000 live births and per 1000 neonatal survivors (NNS) were calculated in five epochs. Data from three state registers with population-level ascertainment were used to investigate birth prevalence trends by gestational age using Poisson regression. Distribution of motor type, spastic topography, and moderate to severe disability (IQ≤50 and/or Gross Motor Function Classification System levels III-V) were evaluated within birthweight categories.Results: Birth prevalence of CP varied across population-level states but within each state declined significantly over time (p<0.05). Birth prevalence per 1000 neonatal survivors declined amongst children born before 28 weeks (South Australia, Victoria p<0.001) and those born at or after 37 weeks (Victoria p<0.001, Western Australia p<0.002). Across Australia the percentage of children with bilateral spastic CP declined amongst those born less than 1000g. The percentage of children with moderate to severe disability decreased (48%-34%, p<0.001).Interpretation: Birth prevalence of CP declined. Encouragingly, the percentage of children with CP whose disability was moderate to severe also decreased.What This Paper Adds: Birth prevalence of cerebral palsy (CP) differed but declined across Australian states (1995-2009). Australian CP birth prevalence declined significantly amongst children born before 28 weeks and those born at or after 37 weeks. The percentage of children with moderate to severe disability decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To identify a cohort of children with cerebral palsy (CP) from hospital data; determine the proportion that participated in standardized educational testing and attained a score within the normal range; and describe the relationship between test results and motor symptoms.Method: This population-based retrospective cohort study used data from New South Wales, Australia. We linked hospital data for children younger than 16 years of age admitted between 1st July 2000 and 31st March 2014 to education data from 2009 to 2014. Hospital diagnosis codes were used to identify a cohort of children with CP (n=3944) and describe their motor symptoms. Educational outcomes in the CP cohort were compared with those among children without CP.Results: Of those with educational data (n=1770), 46% were exempt from reading assessment because of intellectual or functional disability, 7% were absent or withdrawn from testing and 47% participated in testing. About 30% of all children with educational data had test scores in the normal range. The proportion was greatest among those with hemiplegia (>40%) and lowest among those with tetraplegia (<10%).Interpretation: One-third of children with CP participated in standardized testing and achieved a result in the normal range. The proportions were lower in children with more severe motor symptoms.What This Paper Adds: From 2009 to 2014, most Australian children with cerebral palsy (CP) attended a mainstream school. The rate of disability-related exemption from standardized educational testing was almost 50%. Thirty per cent of children with CP achieved educational scores in the normal range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]