Nervous System Disorders | Symptoms & Causes
What are the symptoms of a nervous system disorder?
The following are the most common symptoms of nervous system disorders. However, each child may experience symptoms differently, and different disorders will cause different symptoms to occur. Symptoms may include:
- Delays in developmental milestones
- Increase or lack of growth in head size
- Changes in activity, reflexes, or movements
- Lack of coordination
- Changes in level of consciousness or mood
- Muscle rigidity, tremors, or seizures
- Older children may also report persistent or severe headaches, loss of feeling or tingling, or visual changes
The symptoms of a nervous system disorder may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your child's physician for a diagnosis.
What causes nervous system disorders?
The nervous system is vulnerable to various disorders and can be damaged by the following:
- Trauma
- Infections
- Degeneration
- Structural defects
- Tumors
- Blood flow disruption
Nervous System Disorders | Diagnosis & Treatments
How we care for nervous system disorders
The Department of Neurology at Boston Children's Hospital is the oldest, largest, and best-known program in pediatric neurology in the world. U.S. News & World Report has ranked Boston Children's among the top in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery. The department includes child neurologists who specialize in almost all neurological disorders, including epilepsy, learning disabilities and other developmental disabilities, attention deficit disorders, sleep disorders, neuromuscular disorders, brain tumors, neurogenetic disorders, neonatal neurology, mental retardation and cerebral palsy, pediatric neuro-immunology, and pediatric multiple sclerosis and related disorders.
