Hope a Dr. will read this

[dalejrsgirlie]

My daughter does this weird side to side head bob.  My anatomy professor stated last semester that she could be producing too much CSF...Is this true?  How can you tell if she shows no signs of hydrocephalus.  I'm looking for an answer as this head bob is constant and her teachers are questioning me as to wether or not something is wrong with her.  Her pediatrician states that it is a learned behavior but she has done it since 7 or 8 mo. of age and she is now 7 1/2. Any thoughts???  Her pediatrician doesn't think it warrants a consult with anyone but constant questioning make me think otherwise.  

                                           Concerned mommy,
                                                ~Amanda

[Dr Rajgopal]

Hi,
You have not mentioned the age of your daughter. Head bobbing may be caused by many reasons. It may simply be behavioral. Spasmus nutans is a benign disorder that is usually seen in infants between 4 months and 3 years of age. The symptoms include nystagmus (rapid eye movements),  head nodding, and sometimes abnormal head postures. It usually subsides in several months to years without causing any harm. Head bobbing may be caused by tumors, epilepsy or other serious neurologic disorders that include ventricular tumors and cysts, hydrocephalus, etc.   The symptoms of hydrocephalus are Headache, Vomiting, Nausea , Balance problems, Poor coordination, Gait disturbance, Slow development,  Lethargy, Drowsiness, Irritability etc. The tests for diagnosis of Hydrocephalus include MRI and spinal tap procedure. Please consult a pediatric neurologist for further evaluation. I wish you all the best. Hope this helps you. Take care and regards!

[andriafolsom]

I work in a school system, and we have a student who does a side to side head bobbing.  It sounds exactly what you and a couple others are talking about.  We have worked to address this with the parents, and they are concerned as well.  However, I am wondering what the cause is and what we can do to help her.  Same as for you, this started when she was about 6 months old, and she is now in 2nd grade.  It is affecting her academically, but we are not sure how to help her.  It has been suggested that it is like the opposite of someone who gets sea sickness, and that this little girl is compensating for the imbalance by bobbing her head.  It has been suggested that she try to stay active like bounce on a trampoline and swing to help her body stay busy, which is suppose to lessen the head bobbing.  I am not sure how much she has done of this at home, but it has not seemed to be helpful.  I am looking for any suggestions anyone might have on what we can do to help her at school, what the cause may be, and what her parents can do at home.

[dalejrsgirlie]

I appreciate your reply.  Could you tell me a little about your head bobbing and any signs or symptoms that go along with it?  I think it might be of some help to me.  Thanks!

[dalejrsgirlie]

Could you tell me a little more about your head bob?  Just wondering if it might be the similar.  Thanks for the reply.

                                        

[dorrie99]

I have never seen hydrocephalus cause I head bob- but a neurologist sounds like a good idea

[alchris]

Your are her mother, and as far as  I am concerned you need anohter peditrician.  You need to seek either a child neurologist to run some testing and take it from there.   Even if you have to lie to the peditrician tell them your daughter complains of terrible headaches this at least should get you further testing especially MRI, blood work up etc.  Please remeber nothing is more importatn than health and you are talking about your daughter.  Besides neurology is not the child doctors specilaity.  Nothing makes me more upset when a doctor doesnt think health matters enough for more testing.  Please do what you know is right for your daughter.  Wish you the best.  Dont mean to be so forward but this is your family not the doctor.  I think as patients and parents of patients we all need to stand up for what we feel is right about taking care of health matters.