What to Expect
Referral Process | Initial Visit | Follow-up Appointments
Referral Process
The Headache Center at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center requires a letter of referral from your child's doctor. It is important that this referral include:
- Your child's prior treatments, if any
- Results of labs, if any
Appointments can be made prior to getting a referral, but the referral needs to be obtained before coming to clinic. Once the appointment is scheduled, you will receive an information packet, including questionnaires to complete. You must bring this packet with you to the clinic appointment. The questionnaires will be reviewed by our staff prior to your child's evaluation by the medical team.
The Headache Center at Cincinnati Children's is designed to work closely with your child's primary care physician to treat headache problems. It is important that the primary care doctor be involved throughout the process.
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Initial Visit
The Headache Center clinics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center take place on Monday for new patients and Wednesday for patient follow-ups. At the initial visit, the patient is assessed by a child neurologist, child psychologist and nurse practitioners. The evaluation will include:
- A review of the questionnaires
- Detailed headache history, including family history
- Complete neurological and comprehensive headache exam
- Assessment by a child psychologist, which helps in identifying road blocks to treatment
Additional studies may be ordered, such as lab work or medical imaging.
After your child's evaluation, the Headache Center team will work with your family in developing an individualized treatment plan to meet your child's needs.
What to bring to your first visit:
- Information packet, including questionnaires
- Results of previous studies
- A written list of questions for team members
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Follow-up Appointments
Care by the Headache Center medical team at Cincinnati Children's continues until the headaches are well controlled and no longer a problem. In general, good headache control is defined as few headaches (less than three per month) of short duration and minimal to no disability. Regular follow-ups will be maintained until this level of headache control is sustained.
After therapy is completed, the Headache Center team remains available to patients and families when needed.
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