Support for Multiple Sclerosis in Children

Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a chronic condition that must be managed over the course of a lifetime. In children, the disease may progress more slowly than in adults. However, those who are diagnosed with MS in childhood can have physical disability at an earlier age than adults diagnosed later in life.

The Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center, part of Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone, offers specialized treatment for children living with MS. Our infusion center gives children with MS convenient access to infusion therapies. Our team members are dedicated to enhancing care for children with MS and can help you and your child with medical treatment and symptom management.

We offer a variety of child and family support services and resilience programs at the Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center, provided by Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care.

To contact the Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center directly, please call 929-455-5124.

Rehabilitation Services

Our rehabilitation services include occupational and physical therapy that can help children with MS live as independently and safely as possible. Children with MS may benefit from physical or occupational therapy or a combination of the two.

Rehabilitation services at NYU Langone’s Rusk Rehabilitation are designed to help children with MS manage their symptoms, so that they can live with the least amount of discomfort. To achieve this goal, your child and his or her therapists work together to improve physical capabilities and functional skills.

To maximize your child’s independence and safety, therapists and other experts at Rusk Rehabilitation may also offer input on possible modifications to your child’s home, school, and recreational environments. For example, they may recommend installing an extra handrail on stairways in your home to assist with climbing stairs.

Other outpatient services for children with MS include psychological and family counseling and speech and language therapy.

School Consultation

Our neuropsychologists provide cognitive assessments of your child during regular visits at the Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center. Multiple sclerosis may present challenges in thinking and emotions in children and teens. Cognitive symptoms are especially important to identify in children with MS, as they can interfere with learning and schoolwork.

Our doctors can also advocate on your child’s behalf at educational meetings and in the classroom. They work to educate school staff and assist with determining whether accommodations are needed. These accommodations are provided through Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and are often referred to as a 504 plan. If more detailed intervention for learning support is needed, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) may also be developed.

Patient Programs

The Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center offers a variety of supportive services to patients and their families.

Because MS is rare in children, young people often do not have peers who share their experiences. Several times a year, we offer programs to help our adolescent patients meet and socialize. These programs consist of a variety of activities, including a day at an equestrian center to ride and care for horses. This gives participants, all of whom have some kind of demyelinating disease, a chance to meet each other in a fun and non-threatening setting and to exchange contact information. Parents in need of peer support also may connect with other parents at drop-off or pick-up.

With philanthropic support, we also provide academic remediation services to young people who need assistance. This encourages our patients to success in school and builds positive self-esteem.

We offer a support group for parents, and with permission, we can facilitate one-on-one discussions to connect a parent of a newly diagnosed child with a more seasoned parent. This can help ease the emotional pain and anxiety that may come with having a child with a chronic neurologic condition.

Improvement in quality of life for all who are affected by MS and other demyelinating disorders in an integral component of our mission at the Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center.