FAQ

Developmental delay occurs when a child does not reach developmental milestones within the typical age range, affecting abilities like talking, moving, socializing, or thinking.

Causes can include genetic predispositions, premature birth, environmental influences, hearing impairments, autism, intellectual disabilities, and psychosocial issues.

Diagnosis involves a comprehensive assessment of a child’s developmental history and current abilities, including speech and language evaluations, hearing tests, and neurological assessments.

Treatment may include speech therapy, occupational therapy, and individualized educational plans tailored to support the child’s growth and development.

With early identification and appropriate intervention, many children with developmental delays can make significant progress and reach their potential.

ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulty maintaining attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior.

ADHD affects a child’s ability to focus, control impulses, and regulate activity levels, which can impact school performance and social interactions.

Symptoms include inattentiveness (difficulty sustaining attention, forgetfulness) and hyperactivity-impulsivity (fidgeting, excessive talking, difficulty waiting one’s turn).

Diagnosis involves a comprehensive evaluation, gathering information from parents, teachers, and caregivers, and conducting a physical examination to rule out other condition.

Treatments include behavioral therapy, medications, lifestyle changes, and educational support to help manage symptoms and improve functioning.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by challenges with social skills, communication, and restricted or repetitive behaviors.

Signs include delayed speech development, difficulties in social interactions, restricted interests, and sensitivity to sensory stimuli.

Diagnosis involves screening tools, evaluations by multiple specialists, and possibly genetic testing, brain imaging, or EEGs.

Causes include genetic factors, perinatal events, environmental influences, and social determinants, though the exact causes can be complex and multifactorial.

Treatments include behavioral therapies, speech and occupational therapies, educational support, and sometimes medications to manage associated conditions.

With appropriate support and interventions, many children with autism can develop significant skills and lead fulfilling lives, leveraging their unique strengths and interests.

Tics are sudden, repetitive movements or sounds. Tourette syndrome is diagnosed when both motor and vocal tics have been present for more than a year.

Causes can include personality traits, genetic factors, environmental triggers, and associations with other neurological disorders like ADHD.

Diagnosis involves a detailed evaluation of the child’s symptoms and medical history, sometimes supported by videos or pictures of the tics.

Treatment may be supportive without intervention, or may include behavioral therapy and/or medications.

Many children experience improvement in their tics with age and proper management, allowing them to lead fulfilling lives.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

Types include generalized seizures (e.g., tonic-clonic, absence seizures) and focal seizures, which affect specific areas of the brain.

Diagnosis involves a medical history, neurological examination, EEGs to measure brain activity, and sometimes brain imaging.

Treatments include anti-seizure medications, dietary therapies (e.g., ketogenic diet), surgery, and neurostimulation therapies.

With proper management and care, many children with epilepsy can lead active, fulfilling lives, participating in most activities with appropriate precautions.

Causes include environmental and lifestyle factors (e.g., lack of sleep, dehydration), genetic predisposition, and sometimes anatomical causes within the brain.

Diagnosis involves a detailed medical history, neurological examination, and sometimes additional tests like blood tests or brain imaging.

Treatments may include lifestyle modifications, medications, cognitive behavioral therapy, physical therapy, and complementary therapies like acupuncture.

With proper management, many children can reduce the frequency and severity of headaches and lead comfortable, active lives.

A concussion is a mild form of brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, leading to changes in brain function.

Diagnosis involves a detailed assessment of symptoms and the incident, sometimes including imaging studies. Treatment includes rest followed by a gradual return to activities.

FND are conditions where neurological symptoms occur without a clear physiological cause, often related to how the mind communicates with the body.

Causes can include psychological, social, and neurobiological factors, with stress and trauma often playing a significant role.

Diagnosis involves a detailed history and examination, sometimes supplemented by imaging, EEG, and lab tests to rule out other conditions.

Treatments include psychotherapy, physical and occupational therapy, medication, and support from a multidisciplinary team.

With appropriate treatment and support, many children can manage and overcome symptoms, improving their quality of life.

These are neurological conditions affecting a child’s ability to control movements, leading to involuntary movements or difficulty with motor coordination.

Causes include genetic mutations, brain injuries, metabolic disorders, infections, and inflammatory conditions.

Diagnosis involves a detailed history, physical examination, and sometimes imaging, genetic testing, or nerve conduction studies.

Treatments may include medications, physical and occupational therapy, speech therapy, and sometimes surgical interventions.

With a personalized approach and multidisciplinary care, many children can improve their motor function and quality of life.

These are disorders where the immune system mistakenly attacks the nervous system, causing inflammation and neurological symptoms.

They can lead to inflammation in the brain and spine, causing a range of symptoms like weakness, numbness, and cognitive changes.

Multiple sclerosis is a neuroimmunologic condition where the immune system attacks the myelin sheath, leading to neurological symptoms.

Diagnosis involves a detailed history, imaging studies (MRI), and sometimes cerebrospinal fluid analysis to look for inflammation.

Symptoms include weakness, tingling, and sometimes paralysis, starting in the legs and potentially spreading to other parts of the body.

Autoimmune encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain caused by the immune system attacking brain cells, treated with immunosuppressive therapies like steroids and IVIG.

In rare cases, vaccines can trigger neuroimmunologic conditions like GBS.  In general, the risk of neurologic consequence from vaccines is less than the risk of neurologic consequences from the infection the vaccine protects against.

Symptoms may include headache, confusion, dizziness, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, blurred vision, difficulty concentrating, mood changes, and sleep disturbances.

Diagnosis involves a detailed assessment of the incident and symptoms, neurological examinations. Imaging studies like MRI or CT scans are rarely indicated for mild closed head injuries.

Treatment includes rest followed by a gradual increase in physical and cognitive activities, monitoring symptoms, and preventing future concussions.

Prevention includes educating children and caregivers about the risks, using proper protective equipment, and following guidelines for safe return to activities.

Repeated concussions can lead to long-term effects like cognitive impairment, mood disorders, and increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases.

Risk factors include genetics, exposure to environmental toxins during pregnancy, low birth weight, and brain injuries.

ADHD symptoms are persistent, pervasive, and disruptive in more than one area of life, such as both at school and at home. Many children without ADHD may exhibit challenging behavior at times related to developmental, psychosocial or environmental conditions.

Lifestyle changes like regular physical activity, a healthy diet, structured routines, and adequate sleep can help manage ADHD symptoms.

Behavioral therapy helps children develop skills to manage their behavior, improve organization, and enhance focus, often involving parents and teachers.

With proper management, many children with ADHD can achieve their academic, social, and personal goals, though some may continue to experience symptoms into adulthood.

Types include strokes, Moya Moya disease, arteriovenous malformations, vasculitis, and cerebrovascular complications from conditions like sickle cell disease and congenital heart disease.

Strokes in children are often caused by different factors like congenital heart disease, infections, or genetic conditions, and symptoms may differ from those in adults.

Symptoms include sudden onset of focal neurologic deficits like difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, or vision loss.

Moya Moya disease is a condition where blood vessels in the brain progressively narrow, leading to reduced blood flow and increased risk of stroke.

Treatment options for AVMs may include surgical interventions to remove or reduce the malformation, endovascular procedures, or radiosurgery.

Treatment typically involves immunosuppressive medications to reduce inflammation and prevent further damage to the blood vessels.

Sickle cell disease can increase the risk of strokes during a crisis due to the abnormal shape of red blood cells that can lead to blockages in blood flow to the brain.

Treatment may involve medications, surgical interventions to correct heart abnormalities, and careful monitoring to prevent strokes.

Neuroimmunologic conditions are disorders where the immune system attacks the nervous system, causing inflammation and various neurological symptoms.

They cause inflammation in the brain, spinal cord and /or peripheral nerves, leading to symptoms like weakness, numbness, cognitive changes, and movement disorders.

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks the myelin sheath, disrupting communication between the brain and spine to and from the rest of the body.

Diagnosis involves a detailed medical history, imaging studies like MRI to identify inflammation, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis.

Symptoms include progressive weakness, tingling sensations starting in the legs, and potentially spreading to other parts of the body, sometimes leading to paralysis.