The Blue Bird Circle Clinic for Pediatric Neurology
One of the largest neurology services in the United States, the Clinic for Pediatric Neurology specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care of neurological disorders in children. With more 20,000 patient encounters per year, our large team of specialists care for patients with epilepsy (seizures), multiple sclerosis, developmental delay, sleep disorders, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, headaches, attention disorders, stroke, cortical malformations and brain tumors. These providers also diagnose and treat rare disorders such as Rett syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Batten’s Disease, Prader-Willi syndrome and other neurogenetic conditions. Satellite neurology clinics are located in Clear Lake, Sugarland and the Woodlands.
The Blue Bird Circle Developmental Neurogenetics Laboratory
The Developmental Neurogenetics Laboratory research team has made critical breakthroughs in epilepsy, including the identification of over ten genes related to common childhood seizures, and developing new strategies for the detection and prevention of seizure induced damage in the brain. In the late 1990's, the laboratory created a national family research partnership program to discover families with epilepsy. The Laboratory works to discover the genes and mechanisms underlying childhood epilepsies to improve the lives of children by developing more accurate ways of diagnosing and treating childhood neurological problems at the earliest possible stage. The laboratory is continuing to expand its basic research program with the development of a state-of-the-art molecular facility and has received numerous international leadership and training awards and actively collaborates with many biomedical research centers worldwide.
The Blue Bird Circle Rett Center
The Blue Bird Cirlce Rett Center is one of the largest Rett Center's in the country. We are unique in that we offer a multi-disciplinary approach. Our team of health professionals is focused on Rett Syndrome care, education, and research. Specialists are able to evaluate problems such as scoliosis, chewing/swallowing disfunctions, failure to thrive, gastroesophageal reflux and motor dysfunction. The Rett Center is one of the few centers in the United States that specializes in the diagnosis and care of girls and women with Rett Syndrome in the United States and worldwide. As a major center for this disorder we participate in several collaborative research protocols.
Blue Bird Circle Clinical Research Center
The Blue Bird Circle Clinical Research Center's mission is to bring ever-advancing therapies to bear for our patients. This new center will support cutting-edge research in neurology and will enhance the larger effort to build a clinical research support structure that will advance care to the next level and make a difference in the lives of children affected by neurological disorders. It will capitalize on the remarkable scientific discoveries being made in childhood neurologic diseases and will serve as the clinical research arm of the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, as well as for The Blue Bird Circle Developmental Neurogenetics Lab and The Blue Bird Circle Rett Center, developing the treatments and cures of tomorrow.
Blue Bird Circle Clinic for Multiple Sclerosis
Affiliated with the national Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) clinic specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care of neurological disorders in children caused by demyelization diseases of the central nervous system or MS. Our clinic includes a team of pediatric neurologists, geneticist, neuroradiologist, neuro-opthamologist, social worker, neuropsychologist, psychologists, a pediatric nurse specializing in multiple sclerosis, and the trained volunteers who provide perspective and insight into all aspects of these diseases. The MS Clinic provides a comprehensive, family-centered care to children suffering from MS. An adult neurologist also helps patients transition to adult care.
Blue Bird Circle Muscular Dystrophy Association Clinic
The Muscular Dystrophy Association Clinic specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care of neuromuscular diseases in children. We are affiliated with the national Muscular Dystrophy Association. Pediatric neuromuscular diseases evaluated and treated in the clinic include a group of more than 30 genetic diseases characterized by progressive weakness and degeneration of the nerves and muscles that control movement. Our team of pediatric neurologists, cardiologists, pulmonologists, physical medicine specialists, orthopedic surgeons, social workers, neuropsychologist, psychologist and trained volunteers provides comprehensive, family-centered patient care, education and research for families of children with neuromuscular diseases.
The Autism Center at Texas Children's Hospital
The Autism Center sees patients with autisitic spectrum disorders or those suspected of having autism. The Autism Center provides diagnosis of autism & autism related conditions. The Center is a multidisciplinary effort of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience in collaboration with the departments of Psychiatry, Psychology and Developmental Pediatrics. Working together experts from these fields conduct an extensive patient evaluation to form a diagnosis and a plan of intervention and therapy.
The Cerebral Palsy Clinic at Texas Children's Hospital
The Cerebral Palsy Clinic provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for children with cerebral palsy and related disorders of body movement and muscle coordination. Although cerebral palsy cannot be cured, early treatment and therapy will often allow children to overcome developmental challenges, learn new skills and improve quality of life. Treatment options include physical and occupational therapy, speech therapy, drugs to control seizures, relax muscle spasms, and alleviate pain; surgery to correct anatomical abnormalities or release tight muscles; braces and other orthotic devices; wheelchairs and rolling walkers; and communication aids such as computers with attached voice synthesizers. The Cerebral Palsy Clinic is a multidisciplinary effort of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience in cooperation with the department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
The First Seizure Clinic at Texas Children's Hospital
The First Seizure Clinic at Texas Children’s Hospital treats patients who have recently experienced an initial unprovoked seizure. Many children who experience a first seizure may never experience a second seizure. However, a seizure may be the initial presentation of a more serious medical condition or subsequent epilepsy. When evaluating patients who have recently experienced a first seizure, our providers will try to determine a cause for the seizure and develop an appropriate therapy. A typical clinic evaluation consists of a medical history, physical and neurological examinations and electroencephalogram (EEG) and neuroimaging studies. Treatment options may include the prescription of anticonvulsant therapy.
The Headache Clinic at Texas Children's Hospital
The Headache Clinic treats children and teenagers with symptoms of headache and migraine. Evaluation and treatment of headaches in the clinic includes a variety of therapies designed to reduce pain and improve the patients quality of life. Although most occasional headaches are not cause for worry, those with more serious symptoms including weakness, double vision, stiff neck, fever, vomiting, coordination problems, unusual sleepiness or lethargy, require further evaluation. If a child’s headache is severe, has never experienced a similar headache, or if the headache doesn’t go away after a day or two, parents should contact a doctor because any of these symptoms could be warning signals of a neurological problem.
The Movement Disorder Clinic at Texas Children's Hospital
The Movement Disorder Clinic is a multidisciplinary collaboration of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience in cooperation with the department of Psychiatry and treats patients with impairments of body movement and control. Careful evaluations are conducted to accurately diagnose the movement disorder and form a specific plan of treatment. Treatment options for movement disorder patients include medical therapies, psychological approaches (biofeedback, habit reversal therapy) and surgical techniques (intrathecal baclofen pump, deep brain stimulation) designed to improve and control abnormal body movements. Conditions treated include dystonia, chorea, tics, ataxia, myoclonus, tremor, Tourette Syndrome and other disorders.
The Pediatric Stroke Clinic at Texas Children's Hospital
The Pediatric Stroke Clinic is a multidisciplinary collaboration of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience in cooperation with the departments of Radiology and Hematology. The Clinic provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for children and infants who have experienced a stroke. Pediatric stroke is more prevalent than most people think, affecting 25 in 100,000 newborns and 12 in 100,000 children under 18 years of age; it is the 6th leading cause of death in children. Early recognition and diagnosis is critical for stroke patients, as delays in seeking treatment can lead to permanent disability and stroke recurrence. Comprehensive evaluations are conducted to determine the cause and severity of the stroke and to guide treatment options. Often brain imaging and blood flow analysis are utilized to aid in stroke diagnosis and treatment.
The Peripheral Nerve Clinic at Texas Children's Hospital
The Peripheral Nerve Clinic is a multidisciplinary collaboration sponsored by Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience in cooperation with the departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Plastic Surgery and Orthopedics and treats patients with disorders and injuries of the peripheral nervous system. Injuries or diseases that affect the peripheral nerves are called neuropathies and can interfere with communication between the brain the rest of the body. Conditions that are seen in the Peripheral Nerve Clinic include: birth brachial plexus palsy, traumatic neuropathy, toxic neuropathy, and inflammatory neuropathy. Evaluation and treatment of neuropathies includes physical therapy services, orthotic prescriptions, electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies, immunomodulatory treatments, and referrals to orthopedic and plastic surgery providers.
Texas Children's Epilepsy Center
Texas Children's Epilepsy Center evaluates and treats children with seizure disorders and epilepsy. The center’s multidisciplinary team includes pediatric epileptologists, neurosurgeons, specialized pediatric nurse practitioners, neuropsychologists, neuroradiologists, neuropathologists, dietitians and a social worker. These professionals provide comprehensive care for children with epilepsy and seizures that includes treatment with antiepileptic medications (current and investigational), the ketogenic diet and related diets, vagus nerve stimulation, stereotactic radiosurgery (with a Gamma Knife), and state-of-the-art resective surgical procedures.
The NeuroGenetics Clinic at Texas Children's Hospital
The NeuroGenetics Clinic at Texas Children's Hospital specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of genetic disorders that adversely affect brain development and function. Providers from Neurology and Genetics utilize a multidisciplinary approach in identifying and treating genetic conditions and related brain disorders that are often rare and uncharacterized. Specialized genetic testing and high-resolution brain imaging are employed to provide diagnostic answers for various neurogenetic conditions. Because many of these disorders are poorly understood, clinical research is an important mission of the clinic to develop better means of diagnosis and care for rare neurogenetic syndromes.