Pediatric and Adolescent Headache Care

Headaches are a common experience for both children and adults. Youth with frequent or severe headaches miss more school, experience more school problems, and experience a lower quality of life than their peers without headache. Like adults, most children and adolescents with recurring headaches have migraine or tension-type headache, though other headache types and causes must be considered.

At Children's of Alabama, we have the expertise and resources to accurately diagnose and manage a variety of headache disorders. We work closely with our colleagues in neuroradiology, neurosurgery, neuro-ophthalmology, sports medicine, and psychology to determine which tests and treatments your child needs in order to identify and manage their headaches. 
We also use the latest evidence-based medicines, procedures, neuromodulation devices, physical and behavioral therapies to reduce headache attack frequency and improve a patient’s ability to function. We work with caregivers, teachers, and school nurses to develop customized headache action plans to help children and adolescents manage their headaches effectively at home and school to get back to being a kid or adolescent with the highest quality of life possible.

All patients who are being referred for headache must have the following sent by their referring provider to be effectively scheduled:

• Complete the Specialty Clinic Appointment Form and faxing it to 205-638-2602, along with a Medicaid Referral (if this applies).
• If referring a patient for headache, the PCP Headache Referral Checklist must be included.
• Fax all relevant records, labs, and imaging reports (CT/MRI) to 205-638-2602. 

If you would like to refer to our Children’s South Neurology Headache Providers (Dr. Katherine Hammond and Dr. Sam Hopper), please note that on the form.