Expert Care for Children with Tourette Syndrome, Dystonia and More

If your child has—or may have—a movement disorder such as Tourette syndrome or ataxia, you’ve come to the right place.

Cincinnati Children’s is home to a team of specialists with unique expertise in pediatric movement disorders. We have the skills and experience it takes to diagnose these complex (and often rare) conditions. And we offer treatments and services that can help your child have the best possible quality of life.

What Are Movement Disorders?

The term “movement disorders” refers to a group of neurological (brain-related) conditions. These conditions can interfere with normal movement or cause unintentional, uncontrollable movements.

For example, children with movement disorders may have:

• Tics (repetitive twitches or movements such as blinking and throat clearing)
• Tremors (shakiness)
• Trouble coordinating arm or leg movements
• Twisted postures and body movements
• Spasticity (muscle stiffness that restricts movement)

If left untreated, some movement disorders can make it harder for your child to function—or feel confident. They may have trouble walking or performing fine motor skills, like writing or tying their shoes. Or they may feel reluctant to go to school or socialize with their peers.

Fortunately, with the right diagnosis and treatments, many children live well with their conditions. Here at Cincinnati Children’s, we offer all the therapies your child may need to function (and feel) better.

Who Can Benefit from Seeing a Movement Disorders Specialist?

Experts from our Movement Disorders Clinic care for infants, children and teens. We routinely see families who:

• Have concerns about their child’s unusual movements, and want to have them evaluated
• Are seeking care for a child who’s newly diagnosed with a movement disorder
• Need comprehensive, ongoing care for a movement disorder that can cause disabilities
• Want a second opinion about their child’s diagnosis or treatment options 

Why Trust Cincinnati Children’s to Care for Your Child?

You can feel confident about choosing Cincinnati Children’s because:

• We’ve been doing this for a long time. We founded our Movement Disorders Clinic more than 25 years ago, making it one of the oldest programs of its kind in the country.
• We’re a high-volume clinic. Some providers don’t encounter pediatric movement disorders very often, so they only treat them occasionally. Our team sees children with these conditions every day. Because we’ve worked with so many patients over so many years, we have experience with even the rarest movement disorders.
• We offer more treatments for more conditions. We offer advanced treatments, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) and pallidotomy, that aren’t available at many children’s hospitals.
• We provide research-driven care. Our doctors are also researchers who study movement disorders. By investigating why these conditions occur, we can improve how we diagnose and treat them.