Home >> Health Topics >> Pediatric Neurological Disorders
MyKidz Pediatric Clinic offers comprehensive evaluation and care for children and young adults (up to 25 years old) with neurological symptoms or disorders.
A comprehensive list of neurological presentations are listed below:
- Headache of uncertain etiology
- Headache not responding to first line therapy (i.e. Tylenol and NSAIDs)
- Headache with any other neurological symptoms
2. Post-concussive syndrome
3. Seizures
- Febrile seizures if uncertain about treatment/prognosis
- First time seizures in anyone under 17 years old; second time seizures if 17 years old and older
- Seizures caused by known triggers if uncertain of treatment
- Seizures not responsive to first-line medication
- Seizure syndromes, whether known or unknown (JME, absence, etc)
- Query seizure (usually the question is seizure vs syncope)
- Loss of consciousness for unclear reasons, especially if recurrent
4. Weakness
- Cerebral Palsy
- Stiffness, cramps
- Contractures for unclear reasons, whether present from birth or newly developed
- Unusual limb posturing
- Facial movement weakness
- High CK for unclear reasons
- Other strength abnormalities from unclear causes
- Gait dysfunction, whether long standing or new onset
- Difficulty getting up from sitting position
- Hemiplegia, especially intermittent
5. Movement Abnormalities / Movement Disorders
- Excessive movement (e.g. chorea, dystonia, tics)
- Reduced movement (e.g. bradykinesia)
- Bulbar problems (e.g. dysphagia, dysarthria) for unclear causes
- Eye movement abnormalities (e.g. gaze restriction, nystagmus)
- Ataxia or incoordination, whether chronic, progressive, or intermittent
Note: acute onset ataxia should be referred directly to Hospital Emergency
6. Sensory complaints
- tingling, burning, or reduced sensation
7. Developmental regression / delay
- Dysmorphic child with neurological features (e.g. developmental delays, seizures, abnormal stature)
- Dysmorphic child without any neurological features is best assessed by a general pediatrician and/or geneticist;
however, if there are concerns about possible or probable neurological involvement, a referral is welcome
8. Facial and Body Asymmetries
- Facial asymmetries (e.g. seventh cranial nerve paralysis, whether from Bell’s palsy or unknown, or present from birth;
other cranial nerve palsies or weaknesses, especially new onset palsies)
- Body asymmetries (e.g. limb length discrepancy with weakness and/or contractures, skin asymmetries
- e.g. a rash restricted to one half of the body, or present in a dermatomal distribution)
9. Query neurological presentation with unclear etiology
- New onset behavioural or attention difficulties
(e.g. new onset ADHD in a previously attentive school-aged child or older, irritability in a previously easy-going child)
10. Behavioral Disorders
- Assessment and treatment of patients with query Tourette’s Syndrome
- Previously diagnosed ADHD with other neurological difficulties, such as muscle weakness, developmental delay, seizures,
dysmorphic features skin findings, etc., and/or if the ADHD appears to be new in onset (as described above).
Note: ADHD is best treated or assessed through Psychology and Psychiatry, as behavioral intervention is the best first and major step to treatment. This also applies to Obsessive-Compulsive disorders, Oppositional-Defiant disorders, etc.
- Previously diagnosed Adult Spectrum Disorders (ASD) who have other neurological difficulties, in particular, but not limited to, seizures.
Note: Children with query Autism Spectrum Disorders; like ADHD, must be diagnosed through the appropriate clinics
(in particular, the Autism Clinic at the Alberta Children’s Hospital)
A comprehensive list of neurological presentations are listed below:
- Headaches and Migraines
- Headache of uncertain etiology
- Headache not responding to first line therapy (i.e. Tylenol and NSAIDs)
- Headache with any other neurological symptoms
2. Post-concussive syndrome
3. Seizures
- Febrile seizures if uncertain about treatment/prognosis
- First time seizures in anyone under 17 years old; second time seizures if 17 years old and older
- Seizures caused by known triggers if uncertain of treatment
- Seizures not responsive to first-line medication
- Seizure syndromes, whether known or unknown (JME, absence, etc)
- Query seizure (usually the question is seizure vs syncope)
- Loss of consciousness for unclear reasons, especially if recurrent
4. Weakness
- Cerebral Palsy
- Stiffness, cramps
- Contractures for unclear reasons, whether present from birth or newly developed
- Unusual limb posturing
- Facial movement weakness
- High CK for unclear reasons
- Other strength abnormalities from unclear causes
- Gait dysfunction, whether long standing or new onset
- Difficulty getting up from sitting position
- Hemiplegia, especially intermittent
5. Movement Abnormalities / Movement Disorders
- Excessive movement (e.g. chorea, dystonia, tics)
- Reduced movement (e.g. bradykinesia)
- Bulbar problems (e.g. dysphagia, dysarthria) for unclear causes
- Eye movement abnormalities (e.g. gaze restriction, nystagmus)
- Ataxia or incoordination, whether chronic, progressive, or intermittent
Note: acute onset ataxia should be referred directly to Hospital Emergency
6. Sensory complaints
- tingling, burning, or reduced sensation
7. Developmental regression / delay
- Dysmorphic child with neurological features (e.g. developmental delays, seizures, abnormal stature)
- Dysmorphic child without any neurological features is best assessed by a general pediatrician and/or geneticist;
however, if there are concerns about possible or probable neurological involvement, a referral is welcome
8. Facial and Body Asymmetries
- Facial asymmetries (e.g. seventh cranial nerve paralysis, whether from Bell’s palsy or unknown, or present from birth;
other cranial nerve palsies or weaknesses, especially new onset palsies)
- Body asymmetries (e.g. limb length discrepancy with weakness and/or contractures, skin asymmetries
- e.g. a rash restricted to one half of the body, or present in a dermatomal distribution)
9. Query neurological presentation with unclear etiology
- New onset behavioural or attention difficulties
(e.g. new onset ADHD in a previously attentive school-aged child or older, irritability in a previously easy-going child)
10. Behavioral Disorders
- Assessment and treatment of patients with query Tourette’s Syndrome
- Previously diagnosed ADHD with other neurological difficulties, such as muscle weakness, developmental delay, seizures,
dysmorphic features skin findings, etc., and/or if the ADHD appears to be new in onset (as described above).
Note: ADHD is best treated or assessed through Psychology and Psychiatry, as behavioral intervention is the best first and major step to treatment. This also applies to Obsessive-Compulsive disorders, Oppositional-Defiant disorders, etc.
- Previously diagnosed Adult Spectrum Disorders (ASD) who have other neurological difficulties, in particular, but not limited to, seizures.
Note: Children with query Autism Spectrum Disorders; like ADHD, must be diagnosed through the appropriate clinics
(in particular, the Autism Clinic at the Alberta Children’s Hospital)
