Neuromuscular disease

At Dell Children's, in Austin, Texas, pediatric neurologists provide care for children and adolescents with with neuromuscular disorders.

Young black girl in wheelchair at Dell Children's Medical Center.

Neuromuscular disease care at Dell Children's

Dell Children’s Medical Center at Ascension Seton delivers the most advanced pediatric care in Central Texas — and that includes care for children with neuromuscular conditions. Whether your child has inherited neuropathies, muscular dystrophies, congenital myasthenic syndromes, or congenital myopathies, our specialists are ready to deliver the care your child needs. We also specialize in treating children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) as well as providing on-call support for newborns who screen positive for SMA and coordinating their care as they grow. Only in Austin. Only at Dell Children’s.

The Pediatric Neuromuscular Disease Center care team is composed of highly specialized clinicians, who have access to state-of-the-art diagnostics and facilities designed specifically for children with muscle disease. With access to expert staff and advanced technology for treating both acute and chronic neuromuscular conditions, we provide a wide range of services from evaluation, testing, and diagnosis to surgical treatment, disease management, rehabilitation, and more, giving patients and their families the best quality of life.

The Pediatric Neuromuscular Disease Center at Dell Children's is the only muscular dystrophy clinic in Central Texas affiliated with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), which provides comprehensive care that includes neurologists, pulmonologists, cardiologists, and physical therapists.

Appointment information

During your first visit, you and your child will meet with a neurologist to complete a medical history and physical exam. Based on your child’s specific needs, additional genetic testing or lab work may be required. If necessary, your child will be referred to our affiliated Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) clinic. Visits to the MDA clinic involve an assessment from providers across multiple specialties, including cardiology, pulmonary, neurology, physical therapy, orthotics, mobility, social work, and nursing.

Your child may undergo additional lab work or receive referrals to see other specialists. Your child may also receive prescriptions for medication or recommendations for home physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech-language therapy. Depending on your child’s specific needs, follow-up appointments may occur as frequently as every three months or on an annual basis.

Pediatric neurosciences backed by research

UT Health Austin Pediatric Neurosciences at Dell Children’s is a clinical partnership between Dell Children’s Medical Center and UT Health Austin, the clinical practice of the Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin.

Multidisciplinary care for your child

The pediatric neuromuscular disease center care team addresses the full range of neuromuscular problems in children of all ages. Neuromuscular disorders affect the nerves that control voluntary muscles and often cause progressive muscle weakness. These rare, complex diseases can affect your child’s ability to perform daily tasks, such as walking, speaking, and eating.

Our center care team takes a comprehensive, patient-centered approach to caring for your child to help your child become as independent as possible and ensure your family receives the support they need. Patients are cared for by a dedicated multidisciplinary team, meaning your child will benefit from the expertise of multiple specialists across a variety of disciplines.

Our board-certified and fellowship-trained pediatric neurologists have extensive experience treating conditions of the central nervous system in children from infancy to early adulthood and work alongside a team of pediatric neuroscience experts, including neuropsychologists, neurosurgeons, epileptologists, physician assistants, physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists, physiatrists, hospitalists, anesthesiologists, nurses, advanced practice providers, social workers, psychologists, genetic counselors, child life specialists, dietitians, physical and occupational therapists, pharmacists, and more, providing unparalleled care for patients and their families every step of the way.

We also collaborate closely with referring physicians and other partners in the community, including pediatric cardiologists, pediatric pulmonologists, pediatric gastroenterologists, pediatric sleep medicine specialists, and more, to schedule and coordinate any additional care services your child may need.

  • Conditions we diagnose and treat
    • Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS)
    • Congenital myopathies
    • Duchenne muscular dystrophy
    • Inherited neuropathies
    • Muscle weakness
    • Muscular dystrophy (MD)
    • Myasthenia gravis
    • Nemaline myopathy
    • Neuropathy
    • Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)
  • Services we provide
    • Botulinum toxin therapy
    • Drug therapy
    • Electromyogram (EMG)
    • Evaluation for supportive orthopedic appliances and mobility aids
    • Genetic testing
    • Intrathecal injections
    • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
    • Magnetoencephalogram (MEG)
    • Muscle biopsy
    • Muscular ultrasound
    • Peripheral nerve conduction velocities (PNCV)
    • Referrals for physical, occupational, and speech therapy
    • Surgery
    • Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)

What sets us apart

Affiliated with the MDA

The pediatric neuromuscular disease center at Dell Children's is the only muscular dystrophy clinic in Central Texas affiliated with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA),

Coordinating your child's care

We work with referring physicians, pediatricians, and other partners in the community to schedule and coordinate any additional care services your child may need.

Advanced brain and spine care

Whether your child has epilepsy, ongoing headache pain, hydrocephalus, scoliosis or another neurology need, our specialists are here for them.

Neuromuscular disease