Neurology
Contact Neurology
-
Seattle
206-987-2078
- Bellevue
425-454-4644 -
Everett
425-304-6080 -
Federal Way
253-838-5878
Neurology is the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the nervous system,
which includes the brain and spinal cord. The experts at Seattle Children’s evaluate and care for babies, children and teens with many kinds of neurological
conditions, including cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Children’s has the only
comprehensive epilepsy program in the Pacific Northwest especially for children
and teens. Our clinic is the main teaching site for the University of
Washington’s nationally recognized program for licensed doctors who are
receiving specialized training in pediatric neurology.
Caring for children with complex neurological conditions requires the skills of
specialists in many fields of medicine. At Children’s, your child’s healthcare
team may include surgeons, nurse practitioners, neuropsychologists, dietitians
and social workers. We work closely with experts in several of Children’s
programs and clinics, including Nutrition,
Rehabilitation Medicine and
Social Work, as well as
Neurodevelopmental,
Neurosurgery,
Neuropsychology, and
Psychiatry and Behavioral
Medicine.
Meet the
Neurology care team.
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.
- 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).
- 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.
Subspecialties we offer
