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• Cerebral Palsy Classification Systems

  The most important ones at a glance

  
  • Bilateral, leg-predominantBoth legs affected
  • Unilateral, leg-predominantOne leg affected
  • Whole body affectedWhole body affected
  • HemiparesisOne side of the body affected
  • ParentsParents

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  As soon as your child receives a cerebral palsy diagnosis, you quickly come across abbreviations like GMFCS, MACS, CFCS or EDACS, often without much explanation. This Power-up introduces you to the five common classification systems: GMFCS for mobility, MACS for hand use, CFCS for communication, EDACS for eating and drinking, and VFCS for vision. Each system divides your child's everyday abilities into five levels, and your child can have a different level in each area. Using case examples, you learn to classify the systems yourself, and discover how they help you set realistic goals and speak a common language with professionals.

  This Power-up is for parents.
  It’s about the classification systems used with cerebral palsy.

  What are classification systems?

  Cerebral palsy shows up differently in every child.
  Classification systems describe what your child can do in everyday life.
  They don’t describe the diagnosis, but the abilities.

  There are five systems

  GMFCS: how does your child move? How do they walk? Do they need a wheelchair?
  MACS: how does your child use their hands? For example when eating or getting dressed.
  CFCS: how well can your child make themselves understood? How well do they understand others?
  EDACS: how safely and how well does your child eat and drink?
  VFCS: how well does your child use their eyesight in everyday life?

  Five levels

  Each system has 5 levels.
  Level I means: your child needs little support.
  Level V means: your child needs a lot of support.

  Important to know

  Your child doesn’t have just one level.
  Your child has their own level for each system.
  These levels don’t have to be the same.

  An example: Lina.
  When walking, Lina needs a lot of support.
  When speaking, Lina needs almost no support.
  Both statements are true at the same time.

  Who determines the level?

  The level isn’t determined by a test.
  It’s determined through a conversation.
  As a parent, you know your child’s everyday life best.
  That’s why you’re an important source of information.

  What are the systems good for?

  They help set realistic goals.
  They help you talk with doctors and therapists.
  They show where your child is already strong and where they need support.

  The main point

  The level usually doesn’t change.
  But progress within a level is possible.
  The systems aren’t meant to label your child, but to help both of you.