Hypotonia
If hypotonia (decreased muscle tone) is suspected in a newborn baby or young child, they'll be referred to a specialist.
This will usually be a paediatrician (a specialist in treating children) with expertise in disorders of the nerves and nervous system, or a neurologist (a specialist indisorders of the nerves and nervous system).
The specialist will start by asking a number of questions, which are likely to include:
Following the initial assessment, a full physical examination will be carried out and a blood test may be offered.
Other tests that may be recommended include:
In some cases, no underlying cause can be found despite numerous tests. This is sometimes referred to as benign congenital hypotonia. In this situation, treatment and support can be offered to manage functional difficulties afterother causes of hypotonia have been excluded.
Find out what hypotonia is, what causes it, plus how it's diagnosed and treated.
Read about the causes of hypotonia, which can be neurological, such as cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy, or non-neurological, such as congenital hypothyroidism or Down's syndrome.
Read about how suspected cases of hypotonia are initially assessed and the further tests that may be recommended.
Read about the treatments for hypotonia (decreased muscle tone), which include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy.