Neurological Disorders in Babies

Soon-to-be parents may be nervous about the possibility of neurological disorders in their baby. Neurological disorders affect more than 14 million children in the United States.

Who's at Risk?

• Premature babies, those born before 37 weeks gestation, are at higher risk for neurological disorders.

Diagnosis

• If doctors feel a newborn may be at risk for neurological disorders, the baby will likely receive a neurological exam in the neonatal intensive care unit. This exam will assess the baby's mental status; the state of his cranial nerves by looking at eye movements, facial sensation, hearing, and sucking abilities; the baby's motor skills; his reaction to touch or pinpricks; and his reflexes.

Types

• There are many types of pediatric neurological disorders. Two of the most common are intraventricular hemorrhage, characterized by bleeding in or around ventricles, and periventricular leukomalacia, characterized by damage to the white matter of the brain.

Causes

• Neurological disorders in newborns can result from problems during delivery and birth. Unfortunately, doctors cannot always determine the cause. However, all neurological disorders ultimately are the result of damage to the brain's neurons.

Regeneration is Possible

• Doctors once thought damage to the brain was irreversible, but as of 2009, doctors have proven that this is not true and have been learning how to help the brain grow new cells.