Child Neurology Consultants of Austin would like to take a moment to wish all servicemen and women, past and present, a Happy Veterans Day today.
We have been privileged to know and treat military families here in our clinic over the years, and we are thankful for their service.
We would also like to recognize some of our own staff members who have served in the military, including board-certified and fellowship-trained child neurologist, Dr. Karen Keough, and EEG technician, John Avery.
Dr. Keough completed her residency at Wilford Hall U.S. Air Force Medical Center in San Antonio and also served as chief resident there. She spent three years in the Air Force as a child neurologist before later pursuing an additional fellowship in electroencephalography (EEG) and epilepsy.
John Avery served six years in the Navy Reserves as a 3rd Class Petty Officer Hospital Corpsman dividing his time between the Marines of 4th Marine Division Weapons Company and Expeditionary Medical Facility – Dallas. The Navy provided John the opportunity to proudly serve alongside whom he calls “the best people in the world,” and it also ultimately led him to pursue his career in the medical field.
Veterans Day officially dates back to 1919 and was formerly known as Armistice Day to mark the end of World War One.
Please join us in thanking all servicemen and women in the armed forces for their selfless service to the nation on this special day.
Research on early childhood concussions leading to brain injury later in life keeps emerging.
In the latest study, researchers found that kids who played tackle football before the age of 12 had cognitive, behavioral, and mood issues significantly earlier than those who started at an older age, as published in the Annals of Neurology.
The study conducted by the Boston University School of Medicine also found that children playing tackle football before age 12 and having suffered concussions or concussion-related symptoms were more prone to CTE—chronic traumatic encephalopathy. CTE is a degenerative brain disease common in athletes, military veterans, and others who have experienced repeated head traumas.
For this study, the medical histories of 246 deceased football players were evaluated.
Researchers questioned friends and family members on symptoms their loved ones experienced, how long and how often they played, and at what age they started playing. Of the 246 players, 211 were found to have CTE following their death.
Child Neurology Consultant’s Dr. Michael Reardon weighed in on this study for a recent parenting piece on Austin360.
He cautions that even tackle football in elementary or middle school is not safe as there’s such a difference in body size among players.
• Ask coaches to eliminate the amount of direct contact between players during practice drills.
• Encourage your child to alternate between playing offense and defense so their brain gets a break.
• Remind your child to sit out if they have the sensation that they “got their bell rung,” are dizzy between plays, or have blurred vision.
The full article featuring Dr. Reardon’s comments is available right here.
If you have questions or concerns about your child playing football and their risk of a head injury, please contact us for an appointment with one of our specialists.
When he’s not seeing his patients here in Austin, there’s a good chance he’s caring for some over in Kenya.
Dr. Jeffrey Kane is one our specialists in epilepsy and neurophysiology, and one of our team’s greatest philanthropists who travels abroad regularly to offer his skills to those in need.
Dr. Kane is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with both an undergraduate and master’s degree in English literature. He earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School.
Dr. Kane completed his internship in internal medicine at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, followed by a pediatrics internship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Later he returned to Dallas for his child neurology residency and a fellowship in neurophysiology at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas.
Prior to Child Neurology Consultants, Dr. Kane served as section chief of child neurology for Pediatric Specialty Services at Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas. At Dell Children’s, he also acted as chairman of the Medical Peer Review Committee and a was member of the Medical Executive Committee.
Additionally, he has a special interest in educating the next generation of physicians most recently with the Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin where he teaches a unique class called “The Contemporary Practice of Medicine.” Dr. Kane focuses on the experience of physicians in today’s health care system by covering a variety of practice settings, various practice specialties and roles in administration, as well as important issues such as medical ethics and health care economics.
Dr. Kane was recently named a Top Doctor for 2018 by Austin Monthly, a distinction held by only two other child neurologists in town (including our own Dr. Karen Keough).
Dr. Kane’s passion outside of his work here lies in Africa, with his dedication to HEAL Kenya, a medical outreach program which he co-founded and for which he currently serves as medical director. HEAL Kenya partners with the Austin-based Ubuntu Foundation to provide medical care (such as epilepsy clinics), and other services, to children there.
Dr. Kane is scheduled to make his ninth trip to Kenya later in February.
For more on Dr. Kane, please visit his bio here.
What’s all the beef about fish these days? Well, fish oil actually. Fish oil and its more recently manufactured supplements have been used for hundreds of years by cultures all over the world to treat everything from skin ailments to high cholesterol. In fact, it’s the third most commonly used supplement in the U.S. today.
Some studies have shown that fish oil can help boost brain function and curb symptoms of ADHD, such as inattention and hyperactivity.
The reason is because of the fatty acids it contains. Fish/fish oil provide two essential omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) not present in any other food source. A third form of the fatty acid (ALA), although not as much of a powerhouse for the brain, is found in plant sources such as walnuts, flaxseeds, canola oil, and pumpkin seeds.
But a vitamin isn't the only place to get these benefits. Try adding fish to your child's regular diet such as salmon, tilapia, flounder, haddock, shrimp, scallops, and other types of seafood with low mercury levels. Guidelines recommend 200mg daily of DHA-enriched foods for kids, or up to four, three-ounce servings of fish per week.
Before giving your child a supplement make sure to speak to your physician and that you choose a brand that is as pure and unprocessed as possible.
Want to Boost Brain Power? Move it!
Many of us vow to get more exercise with the start of a new year. For as much time as we parents spend getting ourselves to the gym or squeezing in a run, we should also spend encouraging our children to get moving.
You already know the countless health benefits of exercise. For kids, add better brain function, higher self-esteem and improved academic performance. The CDC recommends that all kids get at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day.
Many schools now offer several opportunities for physical activity throughout the day, besides just P.E. class, including running laps to complete a marathon, playing innovative games like “math hopscotch,” or doing jumping jacks during test breaks or while reciting facts. Studies show that even a 10-minute burst of physical activity can increase a child’s attention and productivity in the classroom.
With schools now upping their game during the day, what can parents do at home to make sure our children are getting the physical activity that their growing and energetic bodies need?
Walk or ride bikes to school. If that’s not feasible, drive to a location a few blocks away, park, and then hoof it the rest of the way.
Add push-ups, jumping jacks, or fun little dance moves to your morning routine, either right before or after breakfast.
Jumping rope is also an easy way to use up some energy. Do it for a couple minutes before settling in to do homework in the afternoon or before dinner or bedtime.
Check out a popular children exercise videos online to get your kids moving.
If your kids require a little boost of encouragement, you might even offer small rewards for them to earn after doing so many minutes of a certain activity.
Dehydration robs your body of precious fluids. As temperatures rise to triple digits, the risk of becoming dehydrated is even greater.
Prevention is simple…drink more fluids. Yet, research says your child likely isn’t drinking enough. In a 2015 study, more than 50% of students examined showed signs of low daily water intake.
Who is most at risk for dehydration? In the hot Central Texas sun, everyone. But, it can be especially dangerous for children with special needs where a change in their body’s condition or temperature can wreak havoc on their delicate systems. Dehydration and insufficient water intake is also headache trigger and can be a migraine trigger in susceptible patients.
Drink. A lot. Water is the best choice since it doesn’t have caffeine or sugar found in many other drinks such as soda and juice. Make sure your child drinks up before heading outdoors. Keep full water bottles handy while outside, and drink up once back inside. If you manage your child’s fluids by a gastrostomy tube, check with your doctor about increasing fluids during hotter months.
Consider other types of fluids. When you sweat, the body is depleted of electrolytes (chemicals in the body that help you regulate fluid intake). To replace these electrolytes, other fluids are sometimes better than water. Pedialyte is a good choice for kids, and also easily digested by special needs children.
Know the symptoms. Call your healthcare provider immediately if your child experiences a fever, diarrhea, vomiting, decrease in tears or urination, or excessive sweating after being in the sun and heat.
If your child is experiencing regular headaches or migraines, request an appointment with one of our specialists today.