Our Services

Movement Disorders Clinic

Description of Services

We focus on the child, not the disorder.

The Movement Disorders Clinic at Children’s Hospital’s Brain Care Institute is a unique service providing diagnosis, education, and treatment for children with movement disorders. Our multifaceted approach to the care of our patients takes into consideration other common issues associated with movement disorders, such as learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, and behavioral concerns. Close affiliations with behavioral health experts through Children’s Hospital’s Child Development Unit and UPMC’s Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic offer further comprehensive care and treatment options.

Some of the movement disorders we treat at the clinic include:

Tics
Dystonia, which is characterized by writhing or twisting movements as a result of muscle contraction
Chorea, or rapid, jerky, sudden movements of the limbs or face
Tremor
Spasticity, or increased muscle tone or stiffness that results in uncontrolled, awkward movements
Ataxia, or the inability to control muscle movement
Myoclonus, a sudden shock like twitching of muscles without a rhythm or pattern
Hyperekplexia means "exaggerated surprise" and is characterized by pronounced startle expressions
Paroxysmal dyskinesias/dystonias
Stereotypies are repetitive movements, postures, or utterances
Huntington disease, and other hereditary chorea
Tourette syndrome

Tourette syndrome: A commonly misunderstood genetic disorder.

A common movement disorder is Tourette disorder (TD) or Tourette syndrome (TS). This neurological disorder is characterized by multiple, repeated, and abrupt tics; purposeless and involuntary vocal sounds; or muscular jerks. Tourette affects one out of every 100 people and tends to diminish with age. The disorder also can be accompanied by a host of other issues, including anxiety, ADHD, ADD, OCD, and sensory sensitivity.

Learn more about Tourette syndrome and its symptoms.

Read about one patient's experience with Tourette in UPMC Today, Winter 2012.

Learn more about our team.