Pediatric Neurology

Pediatric neurologists treat children suffering from illness or injury to the nervous system. Pediatric neurologists at MaineHealth are highly trained in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological conditions in children.

What is pediatric neurology?

A pediatric neurologist specializes in the diagnosis and management of neurologic conditions in children of all ages, from newborns to teenagers.

Neurological conditions can be a result of illness or injury. Pediatric neurologists often diagnose, treat, and manage the following conditions:

Epilepsy and other seizure disorders
Pediatric sleep disorders
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Pediatric migraine/headaches
Autism spectrum disorders
Cerebral palsy
Motor and speech/developmental delays
Mental retardation/genetic disorders
Neurogenetic and neurometabolic disorders
Neuroimmunologic disorders including multiple sclerosis (MS)
Neuromuscular disease including myopathy, muscular dystrophy, peripheral neuropathies, and myasthenia gravis
Movement disorders and Tourette’s syndrome
Scoliosis
Arteriovenous malformation (AVM)
Vein of Galen malformation (VGM)
Chiari malformation
Moyamoya disease
Malignant and non-malignant brain tumors
Hydrocephalus
Spina bifida
Trauma

Pediatric neurology diagnosis

A doctor will diagnose a neurological condition using one or more tests. Some diagnostic testing for neurological conditions in children includes:

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Bi-plane cerebral angiography, and nuclear medicine investigation
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy to assess the metabolic status of a tumor, helping to differentiate between tumor recurrence and tissue necrosis
Electroencephalogram (EEG) to record the brain's electrical activity
Electromyography (EMG) to help find the cause of muscle weaknesses and help diagnose neuromuscular disorders
Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) test to measure the speed at which sensory and motor nerves transmit signals
Electronystagmography (ENG) to look at voluntary and involuntary eye movements
72-hour Ambulatory EEG to help distinguish epileptic seizures from non-epileptic seizures
Video/EEG Monitoring, the "gold standard" in the diagnosis of seizures
Neuropsychological testing
PSG (polysomnogram) test to help diagnose pediatric sleep disorders

Pediatric neurology treatment

Pediatric neurology treatment depends on the type and severity of the neurological illness or injury. Some treatment options for children with neurological conditions include:

Intrathecal baclofen pump (IBP) management to help decrease spasticity related to multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries and other neurological diseases
Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS)
Botulinum toxin (Botox) therapy for conditions such as spasticity and dystonia
Innovative medical and alternative therapies
Surgical treatment options

Specialized care when you need it

Most often, parents can find the care and treatment for their children close to home and in their communities, at their doctor's office or local hospital. In addition, the MaineHealth system connects patients and their families to the most advanced network of care in northern New England. For more complex cases, the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center treats children affected by neurological illness or injury with an exceptional range of diagnostic and treatment expertise. Maine Medical Partners-Neurology offers a pediatric and young adult neurological practice, giving young patients access to the most advanced treatment for neurological disorders.