Migraine Headaches, Neurosciences

Children’s excessive screen time can cause headaches from digital eyestrain

Is too much screen time causing your child’s headaches? It’s very possible. Excessive screen time is a common issue among children today, and it can cause digital eyestrain. Spending too much time staring at a screen, such as a phone, tablet or computer, can cause digital eyestrain, a key trigger in headaches. Although it may…

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Neurosciences

When does a baby’s soft spot go away?

Ian S. Mutchnick, M.D. is a pediatric neurosurgeon with Norton Children’s Neuroscience Institute. Babies’ brains grow very quickly. Therefore, the bones of a baby’s skull are not connected to each other, which allows the skull to expand easily to keep up with the growth. In two “soft spots” – one on top of the head…

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Heart, Neurosciences, Orthopedics, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Child with brain injury achieving better movement with spasticity care

In October 2009, Clayton Fackler was “a pretty typical 3-year-old,” according to his mother, Susan Fackler. The family was outside playing when Clayton suddenly collapsed, going into cardiac arrest. From there, Clayton would begin a health journey that would include a brain injury that has caused a number of issues, including spasticity. Sudden collapse leads…

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COVID19, Neurosciences

COVID-19 appears to make existing neurological conditions in kids worse

Cases of COVID-19 neurological damage in kids have been rare, but children with chronic neurological diseases have seen their conditions worsen, according to a child neurologist in Louisville. “People have seen really small numbers of kids with rare complications spread across the country,” said Michael L. Sweeney M.D., a child neurologist with Norton Children’s Neuroscience…

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Epilepsy, Neurosciences

Treating seizures in children using electrical stimulation

Using electrical stimulation to treat seizures in children — neuromodulation — is a potentially life-changing treatment option for kids with drug-resistant, or refractory, epilepsy. “Neuromodulation is the alteration of nerve activity through targeted delivery of a stimulus, such as electrical stimulation,” said Ian S. Mutchnick, M.D., a pediatric neurosurgeon at Norton Children’s Neuroscience Institute. Small…

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Neurosciences, News

Treating speech and other developmental delays early is important

Speech delay in toddlers is very common, along with other developmental delays in children such as motor skills, listening, understanding or social development. About 15% to 20% of children nationally are affected by developmental delays. Children can outgrow those delays later in childhood, especially when delays are addressed early. The opportunity to treat developmental delays…

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Muscular Dystrophy, Orthopedics

Muscular dystrophy tests include genetic, muscle and nerve examinations

Tests to diagnose muscular dystrophy generally look for genes associated with inherited muscle diseases and include measures of muscle strength and neurological tests along with other examinations to rule out other causes of symptoms. Before any complex tests are conducted, your pediatrician or specialist physician will ask about your child’s symptoms and whether any other…

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Migraine Headaches, Neurosciences

Babies and infants can get migraine headaches

Migraine headaches can start at any age, affecting babies and toddlers. There are many differences in symptoms children and adults. What can parents do to spot a migraine and get your child relief? What ages do migraine headaches appear in children? Although migraine headaches most commonly occur in teens and young adults, the attacks can…

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Brain Tumor, Cancer, Neurosciences

What is juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma (JPA)?

A 2017 study in the Journal of Neuro-Oncology showed that children in Appalachia, a region that spans 13 states including large parts of Eastern Kentucky, are more at risk for a type of pediatric brain tumor called juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma (JPA). What is juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma? The study compared how often pediatric brain tumors happened…

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Employee stories - Norton Childrens, Muscular Dystrophy, Neurosciences

An inquisitive mind staying on top of rapidly developing neurology treatments for kids

Staying at the forefront of new developments that can help children with epilepsy, headaches and other conditions affecting the brain, nervous system, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles comes naturally to Amanda Rogers, M.D., a child neurologist and director of pediatric neuromuscular disorders with Norton Children’s Neurology. Dr. Rogers’ love of taking care of children and…

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Neurosciences, Patient Stories, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

New gene therapy treatments offer relief and hope for family with two children with SMA

Alex and Aaron Haas had heard of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) — a former neighbor of Aaron’s had a grandchild who died from it — but didn’t know much about it when 3-month-old Riley seemed less active than a family friend’s baby of the same age. A small knot in the back of Riley’s neck…

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Allergy and Immunology, Neuropsychology, Neurosciences, News

What can a routine infection have to do with a child’s sudden outbursts and obsessiveness?

The 5-year-old who arrived at the Norton Children’s Hospital emergency department in December was far different than the happy, healthy girl her parents had come to know. A month earlier, it started with emotional outbursts. One day she repeated the word “puppy” over and over and then laughed hysterically. The next, she seemed afraid of…

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