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Childhood degenerative neurological disorders majorly impact the developing nervous system in infants, children, and adolescents. Children either carry the disorder from birth or get it later in life due to severe injury or infection. These disorders can have a profound and life-long impact on a kid's gross motor functions, cognition, and overall quality of life. Early detection and precise medical intervention can significantly control and manage most childhood neurological disorders.
Synopsis
Common Neurological Disorders in Children: Signs and Symptoms
Neurological disorders are a group of conditions that affect the nervous system, which is the complex network of nerves and cells that controls everything we do, from thinking and feeling to moving and breathing. The most common neurological disorders in children are Epilepsy, Cerebral Palsy, Migraine Headaches, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Movement Disorders, Muscular Dystrophy, etc.
Though the warning signs can be subtle and challenging to identify at the beginning, detecting them early on is critical to help prevent complications.
Let’s look at a few subtle, early signs and symptoms of paediatric neurological disorders:
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Motor Signs: Imbalance, delays in achieving motor milestones like sitting or walking
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Oral Motor Problems: Limited or no speech, odd pitch when talking.
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Sensory Processing Issues: Underreaction or overreaction to lights or sounds
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Cognitive Delays: Issues with memory, concentration, etc.
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Behavioural Concerns: Interpersonal difficulties, focus problems or poor frustration tolerance
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Unexplained Pain: Frequent headaches and seizures
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Gastrointestinal Issues: Excessive drooling, reflux, or constipation
How Do Neurological Disorders in Children Affect Their Development?
Childhood neurological disorders significantly impact various aspects of child development, right from cognitive and motor skills to emotional development. Conditions like Autism, Epilepsy, and Cerebral Palsy can hinder learning abilities and physical coordination. These challenges often lead to difficulties in academic performance and social interactions. If left untreated, these disorders may result in long-term consequences like developmental delays, social isolation, reduced educational attainment, and limited career opportunities as well as mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. Early detection of these neurological conditions in children not only helps reduce these effects but also enhances the child's potential to lead a fulfilling life.
Managing Neurological Disorders in Children
Identifying the most effective treatment for a child requires a thorough assessment of different aspects. It may include the intensity of manifestations, age, and cognitive skills. A right medical intervention may help children with neurological problems to develop motor skills, and confidence and to reach their full potential.
Medical Interventions
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Medications: The common medical intervention is medications that are advised to treat symptoms associated with conditions like headache, epilepsy, movement disorders, and so on.
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Dietary therapies: A nutritious diet can also help treat different types of neurological diseases. A doctor may propose a particular diet for your child to follow.
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Surgical Intervention: Surgery is the last choice when non-surgical measures fail to control symptoms effectively. It focuses on repairing defective body structures triggered by neurological illnesses, such as spina bifida.
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Stem cell therapies or genetic treatments: These are other innovative interventions that are generally recommended in the treatment of rare genetic or metabolic diseases.
Consult our neurology hospital in Malleshwaram if your child needs treatment for Neurological disorders.
Developmental Interventions
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Physical Therapy: To improve gross motor skills, muscle tone, strength, balance, and coordination.
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Occupational Therapy: It focuses on fine motor skills and visual-motor integration.
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Speech-Language Pathology: Addresses and manages issues with swallowing and feeding.
Behavioural Interventions
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Psychological Counselling: For managing maladaptive behaviours.
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Parent education programs: Assist parents in handling behavioural, developmental, or attentional problems more skillfully.
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Treatments for behaviour modification: Encourage positive conduct and discourage negative behaviour.
Contact an expert paediatric neurologist in Bangalore immediately if you detect any unusual symptoms in your child's development. Early identification and screening are essential. Children with neurological impairments can move to the highest level of independence in adulthood with the correct developmental therapies.
FAQ's
Cerebral palsy is the most common neurodevelopmental condition in children and is brought on by brain injury. This disorder impairs a child's gross motor skills, including movement, coordination, and balance. Early intervention with physical and occupational therapy is effective in preventing complications.
Since neurological illnesses have numerous forms, the signs and symptoms are likely to differ. A few common signs that may indicate that your child may have neurological issues include:
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Seizures
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Confusion
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Speech delay or slow oral motor skills
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Muscle weakness
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Poor learning and coordination abilities
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Subtle episodes of staring or becoming unresponsive
Most neurological conditions are chronic and require ongoing management to control symptoms. Certain types of epilepsy can be controlled effectively with medication or surgery. Autism spectrum disorder and cerebral palsy, however, need continuous therapies to manage and improve quality of life.
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