Development: cerebral palsy: practice question

A Pediatrics question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pediatrics · Development: cerebral palsy

Sample item

An infant has persistent early hand preference before 12 months, increased tone in one side, and delayed gross motor milestones. What condition should be considered?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Cerebral palsy

Early hand preference can be a red flag for unilateral motor impairment, including hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Persistent abnormal tone and motor delay warrant developmental and neurologic assessment.

Option by option

  • A. Normal handedness alone

    Clear early hand preference with abnormal tone is not dismissed as normal variation.

  • B. Simple speech delay

    Speech delay alone does not explain unilateral hypertonia.

  • C. Acute meningitis

    Meningitis is an acute infectious syndrome, not a chronic motor pattern.

  • D. Cerebral palsy (correct)

    Correct. Asymmetry and hypertonia support concern for cerebral palsy.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is D, Cerebral palsy. Early hand preference can be a red flag for unilateral motor impairment, including hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

Why is "Normal handedness alone" not the answer?

Clear early hand preference with abnormal tone is not dismissed as normal variation.

Why is "Simple speech delay" not the answer?

Speech delay alone does not explain unilateral hypertonia.

Why is "Acute meningitis" not the answer?

Meningitis is an acute infectious syndrome, not a chronic motor pattern.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Development: cerebral palsy in Pediatrics. Persistent abnormal tone and motor delay warrant developmental and neurologic assessment.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Development: cerebral palsy?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.