Headache Clinic

Headaches can be caused by several factors, including:

• head injuries
• fevers
• stress
• weather changes
• food
• inherited headache disorders

As a result, your child may be experiencing an intense, throbbing or pulsing headache in the front or sides of their heads. He may also experience vomiting, extreme light or sound sensitivity, or blurred vision.

During your child's first visit to our headache clinic, we will perform a background assessment, conduct several tests and develop an initial treatment plan. We partner with your family to educate you and your child on preventing and treating headaches. The visit takes approximately 3 hours.

A neurologist will begin the appointment by collecting a detailed medical history and conducting a physical exam. Your child will then meet with our pediatric psychologist to address possible non-medical and emotional factors. If necessary, diagnostic tests will be performed, such as a CT scan or MRI.

We offer several treatments, including:

• Behavioral treatments and non-drug interventions — We work with your child to develop healthy habits to relieve stress on the body, including balanced nutrition; good sleep hygiene; moderate daily exercise; and relaxation training.
• Identifying headache triggers — Certain foods - such as caffeine, dairy or processed meats - can cause headaches. We help your child identify these triggers and avoid them.
• Drug therapies — We use medications that prevent and treat headaches.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy — We may use a short-term psychological intervention that teaches your child the skills to identify and change unhelpful thoughts and emotions that can create or worsen her headache.
• BioFeedback — We may use a computerized system to help your child identify and control how his body functions. Research has shown that control over body temperature, muscle tension and heart rate can reduce pain and prevent headaches.
• Physical Therapy — We use a combination of adjustments and massage to relieve tension and correct posture.