Comprehensive neurological care for infants, children, and adolescents — led by Dr. Thomas Kurian, MD, board-certified in adult and pediatric neurology, in Santa Clarita.
overview
Children are not just small adults. Their brains are still developing, their conditions present differently, and the way care is delivered has to fit their age, their family, and their school. We take all of that seriously.
The first visit is a thorough conversation with the parents, and a play-based or age-appropriate examination of the child. We talk through the pregnancy and delivery, milestones, family history, what specifically has changed, and how the child is doing in school and at home. Parents are welcome to bring videos of any episodes they have noticed.
Children’s neurological exams are different from adults’ — we watch how a child plays, walks, runs, and explores the room as part of the exam. Hands-on portions are gentle and brief. Depending on the picture, we may order an EEG, an MRI, blood work, or specialized testing. Imaging in young children sometimes requires sedation, and we discuss what that involves clearly with families.
Plans for kids extend beyond medication. We talk through school accommodations (504 plans, IEPs), sports and activity safety, sleep, screen time, and family education. We make written plans for school nurses or teachers when helpful.
common reasons
A snapshot of the conditions that bring kids and families in.
Migraine, tension-type headache, post-traumatic headache, and the migraine equivalents of childhood (abdominal migraine, cyclic vomiting, benign paroxysmal vertigo). Treatment is adapted to age, weight, and school schedule.
Absence epilepsy, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, focal epilepsy, benign rolandic epilepsy, and febrile seizures. EEG is performed in our office or referred locally.
Delayed walking, talking, or social milestones, and loss of previously acquired skills. We coordinate with developmental pediatricians, early intervention, and school services.
From transient tics that simply need reassurance to Tourette syndrome with co-occurring ADHD or OCD. Treatment ranges from education to behavioral therapy (CBIT) to medication.
Graded return-to-learn and return-to-play planning, persistent post-concussion symptoms, and coordination with the school and athletic trainer.
Sleep events, fainting (vasovagal syncope), tremor, ataxia, weakness, peripheral neuropathy, neurofibromatosis surveillance, and chronic dizziness.
for families
A few practical things that make pediatric visits easier — for the child, the parent, and us.
For toddlers and young children, talk briefly about the visit in age-appropriate language. Tell them the doctor is going to ask questions and watch them walk and play. Bring a favorite toy or comfort item.
Bring or send (in advance, if possible) any prior EEG or MRI reports, school evaluations, prior neuropsychological testing, and the current medication list. If your child has had episodes you’d like us to see, a brief cell-phone video is invaluable.
Most parents have specific questions about safety, school, sports, medications, and what the future may look like. Writing them down beforehand makes sure none get missed in the visit.
If a sibling has to come, that’s fine — just know that the visit will be about the patient. Bring a snack and a drink for the child if the visit lasts more than an hour.
concussion care
Concussion management is one of the most common reasons families bring teenagers to neurology. Our approach is structured and conservative.
Relative cognitive and physical rest — limited screens, light cognitive activity, no sports. Symptoms are tracked daily.
A stepwise progression: short school days with reduced cognitive demand, then full school days with accommodations, then full school with no accommodations.
A separate, slower progression — light aerobic exercise, then sport-specific drills, then non-contact training, then full contact, then return to play. Each step requires symptom freedom before advancing.
If symptoms last more than 4 weeks, we evaluate for treatable contributors — sleep disturbance, mood, vestibular dysfunction, cervicogenic pain, or post-traumatic headache — and refer to vestibular or vision therapy when appropriate.
Athletes with multiple concussions deserve careful conversation about future participation. We discuss the risk-benefit honestly with the family.
We work with the school nurse, athletic trainer, primary care physician, and (when needed) physical and vestibular therapists.
working with your pediatrician
Pediatric neurology works best when the neurologist, the pediatrician, and the family are all aligned. Here is how we keep that coordination tight.
After every visit we offer a summary of what we found, what we recommended, and what we changed in the plan to your child’s pediatrician. The pediatrician remains the medical home; we are the neurology specialist they can call on.
Many children with neurological conditions benefit from school accommodations — extended time on tests after a concussion, classroom seating considerations for a child with absence epilepsy, breaks for a child with chronic migraine. We provide written letters to support 504 plans and Individualized Education Programs.
For children with epilepsy, post-concussion syndrome, or other neurological conditions, we provide written clearance documentation for sports participation when appropriate.
Children with complex neurological conditions sometimes need other specialists — developmental pediatrics, child psychiatry, genetics, ENT, or physical and occupational therapy. We help families coordinate care so the same questions don’t get asked five times.
For established pediatric patients, telemedicine follow-up visits work well — particularly for migraine, controlled epilepsy, post-concussion symptoms, and tic disorders. Parents and children can join from home, school office, or even from a grandparent’s house when family is involved in care decisions.
We point families to vetted resources: the American Academy of Pediatrics (aap.org), the Child Neurology Foundation (childneurologyfoundation.org), the Epilepsy Foundation, and condition-specific organizations. We avoid recommending random internet sources for medical decisions.
common tests explained
Plain-language explanations of the tests pediatric neurology patients sometimes need — what the test is, why we order it, and what to expect.
An electroencephalogram records the brain’s electrical activity through small electrodes placed on the scalp with a conductive paste. It is painless and takes 30 to 60 minutes for a routine study. We use it to evaluate possible seizures, unusual events, and certain childhood epilepsy syndromes.
A magnetic resonance imaging scan creates detailed pictures of the brain without radiation. Younger children sometimes need light sedation to lie still. We order MRI to evaluate possible structural causes of seizures, headaches, weakness, or developmental concerns.
Standard pediatric neurology blood work may include a metabolic panel, thyroid studies, vitamin levels, lead level, or specific tests based on the picture. Most children tolerate the blood draw well with cooperation from the lab and parents.
For children with developmental concerns, learning differences, or persistent post-concussion symptoms, formal neuropsychological testing provides a detailed profile of cognitive strengths and weaknesses that informs school and treatment plans.
When a child’s neurological picture suggests a possible genetic cause, targeted or broad genetic testing may be appropriate. We coordinate with genetic counselors when relevant and discuss what each test can and cannot tell us.
Sleep disorders are common in children and can mimic or worsen neurological symptoms. When sleep apnea, parasomnias, or movement disorders during sleep are suspected, a polysomnogram in a sleep lab provides detailed information.
frequently asked questions
Plain-language answers to questions parents bring up most often — also marked up as structured FAQ data.
Common reasons include recurrent or severe headaches, possible seizures or staring spells, delayed motor or language milestones, regression of previously acquired skills, persistent symptoms after a concussion, tics or unusual movements, weakness or coordination problems, fainting episodes, and unusual sleep events. Pediatricians often refer when neurological symptoms persist or when reassurance plus testing is needed.
We see children with migraine and tension-type headache, childhood absence epilepsy, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, focal epilepsy, febrile seizures, breath-holding spells, syncope, developmental delay, tics and Tourette syndrome, sleep disorders, neuropathy, ataxia, post-concussion syndrome, and more. Dr. Kurian is board-certified in both adult and pediatric neurology and sees patients across the full pediatric age range.
We see infants, toddlers, school-age children, and teenagers — newborn through age 18. Older adolescents who have an established neurological condition can continue with us into early adulthood as part of a coordinated transition to adult neurology care.
Pediatric migraines are often shorter than adult migraines (1 to 2 hours instead of 4 to 72), more often bilateral rather than one-sided, and frequently include abdominal pain, motion sickness, or pallor. Some children also experience cyclical vomiting, benign paroxysmal vertigo, or motion sickness as 'migraine equivalents' before classic headaches start. Treatment is adapted to age and weight.
A febrile seizure is a seizure that occurs in a child between about 6 months and 5 years old in the setting of a fever, without an underlying brain infection or other clear cause. Simple febrile seizures (under 15 minutes, generalized, not recurring within 24 hours) are common, frightening, and almost always benign — they do not cause brain damage and most children outgrow them. Complex febrile seizures (longer, focal, or recurring) deserve evaluation. We help families recognize when to be reassured and when further workup is needed.
Tics are common in school-age children — about 1 in 5 children has at least transient tics, and they often peak around ages 8 to 12 then improve in adolescence. Tourette syndrome involves both motor and vocal tics for over a year. Many children with mild tics need only reassurance and education; those with disruptive tics or co-occurring ADHD or OCD may benefit from behavioral therapy (Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics — CBIT) or medication.
Most concussions resolve within a couple of weeks with appropriate management — relative cognitive and physical rest for 24 to 48 hours, then a graded return to school and a separate, slower graded return to sport. Persistent symptoms beyond 4 weeks deserve neurological evaluation. We help families build a return-to-learn and return-to-play plan that works with the school and the team. We do not clear an athlete for return to sport without resolution of symptoms at full cognitive and physical exertion.
We evaluate the neurological aspects of these conditions — for example, ruling out a seizure disorder, evaluating for tics or movement disorders, or assessing motor milestones. Comprehensive autism diagnostic assessments and ADHD treatment are typically managed by developmental pediatricians, child psychiatrists, or psychologists, and we work in coordination with those specialists.
Bring a favorite toy or comfort item. Plan for a snack and water. Tell your child ahead of time, in age-appropriate language, what to expect ('the doctor is going to ask questions and watch you walk and play'). The exam is gentle and play-based for younger children. Parents stay in the room for the entire visit. Many parents find it helpful to write down their main concerns and questions in advance.
questions before you schedule
Many families call before scheduling — wanting to know whether their concern is appropriate for our practice, what insurance we accept, or how to get records sent in advance. Our front desk is happy to walk through any of that. Reach us during office hours Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM (closed for lunch 12:30 to 1:30) at (661) 857-7100, or send a message through the contact form at any time. Same-day or expedited appointments are sometimes available for urgent neurological concerns — let the front desk know what is going on and we will do our best to fit you in. For new patients, please have your insurance information, primary care physician’s name, and a brief description of your concern ready when you call. We verify benefits in advance so there are no surprises at check-in. Existing patients with a treatment question between visits should call the office; non-urgent questions are also welcome through the patient portal.