Neurology

Conditions We Treat

We see children with a broad range of neurological conditions, including:

Developmental delays

Children who develop at a slower rate compared to other children in their age group may have what healthcare providers call developmental delays. Developmental delays can refer to the rate at which children's senses develop, how they grow socially or emotionally, or how fast they learn language and other skills having to do with processing information.

Headaches

In general, children get the same types of headaches as adults. Some types can be hereditary, meaning if you have headaches, your child may, too. Most headaches aren't signs that something more is wrong. Only about 10 percent of headaches are caused by medical conditions such as infections or other serious illnesses. Two of the more common types of headaches children get are tension headaches and migraines. Read more.

Mitochondrial and other neurometabolic disorders

Neurometabolic disorders are problems with the way the body converts food to energy. Mitochondria in our cells help make almost all of the energy people need to live and grow. In children with mitochondrial disorders, these energy-making areas do not work properly. This damages cells and causes different kinds of symptoms, depending on which cells are damaged.

Movement disorders

Movement disorders are sets of symptoms that affect the way your child moves. The term includes many different disorders, from slow and stiff movement (bradykinesia) to movements that are sudden and jerky (myoclonus). Movement disorders can come with other medical problems. Tics, for example, may be part of Tourette syndrome.

Muscular dystrophy (MD)

Muscular dystrophy refers to a group of diseases that gradually cause muscles to weaken. MD is a genetic disorder, passed from parent to child through genes. These disorders vary in many ways. Some affect children, others adts. Some disorders are very severe and get worse fast; others cause fewer problems and worsen slowly. In most cases, however, people with MD become unable to walk. While there is no cure, treatment can help people do things for themselves for as long as possible and prevent complications.

Seizures and epilepsy

A seizure occurs when there is an abnormal, sudden electrical discharge from the brain cells. Depending on which cells are involved, children may pass out (lose consciousness) and jerk their arms and legs (convulsions). Or they may have a type of seizure that is harder to notice, such as a staring spell or twitching in one side of the face. Epilepsy is a condition in which a child has seizures again and again (recurrent seizures). Read more.

Cerebral palsy (CP)

Cerebral palsy is a condition that affects your child's muscle tone and ability to move on purpose in a coordinated way. Cerebral palsy can lead to other health issues, including vision, hearing and speech problems and learning disabilities. CP is most often caused by damage to the brain. There is no cure for CP. Treatment, therapy, special equipment and, in some cases, surgery can help your child live with the condition. Read more about cerebral palsy.

Subspecialties We Offer

• Epilepsy
• Mitochondrial Medicine and Metabolism
• Neuropsychology

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