About This Center
The Pediatric Neuromuscular Disease Center is a specialty program within UT Health Austin Pediatric Neurosciences at Dell Children’s, a clinical partnership between Dell Children’s Medical Center and UT Health Austin.
The Pediatric Neuromuscular Disease Center diagnoses, treats, and manages the care of children and adolescents with neuromuscular disorders, including inherited neuropathies, muscular dystrophies, congenital myasthenic syndromes, and congenital myopathies. 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.
The Pediatric Neuromuscular Disease Center care team is composed of nationally recognized and 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. We also use the ever-expanding science of gene therapy to treat patients with qualified conditions, such as SMA and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Our collaborative team ensures your child's treatments and post-treatment follow-up visits go as smoothly as possible.
The Pediatric Neuromuscular Disease Center 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.
The Dell Children’s Neuromuscular Disease Center is ranked among the nation's best Neurology and Neurosurgery specialty programs by U.S. News & World Report in 2024-2025.
Treatment Approach
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. The Pediatric Neuromuscular Disease 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.
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 3 months or on an annual basis.
For more information about the Pediatric Neuromuscular Disease Center, please call 1-512-628-1855. You can also fax referrals to 1-512-380-7544.