October 29th is Child Neurology Awareness Day. We sat down with Benjamin Ross, MD for our Medical Minute to learn more about neurological conditions, and how we serve children with neurological diagnoses at camp! He is not only our Medical Director at Roundup River Ranch, but he also specializes in Child Neurology.
About Neurological Conditions
Neurology involves medical conditions associated with the nervous system which includes the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles. Neurological disorders are the leading cause of illness and disability worldwide affecting more than 1 in 3 people. This is more than 3 billion people according to a study done in 2021.
Brain disorders can affect mood/behavior, language, motor function, vision, or intelligence depending on what part(s) of the brain are involved. Seizures and epilepsy are also common.
Spinal cord disorders are more likely to affect leg strength/sensation and bowel and bladder function. Intelligence may be normal; however, some children with spinal cord disorders may require a wheelchair for mobility.
Nerve and muscle diseases primarily involve weakness and sensory changes. When severe, these conditions can impair mobility and in some cases breathing.
Impact of Neurological Conditions
There are a wide variety of Neurological Conditions, so it really depends on the specific type of neurologic disease, but mobility, balance, and coordination challenges/limitations are common. The visibility of many neurological diseases can also add to difficulties for kids socially.
For some, it may be very similar to other kids yet for others it may require dependency on family, friends, and caregivers for most daily activities and personal care with frequent visits to the doctor, multiple procedures, testing, and hospitalizations.
At Camp
Safety at camp is always a top priority. During Neurology Week, we often have additional considerations such as increased fall risks and providing appropriate adaptive gear/equipment for each activity area. This may vary by activity and specific diagnosis. We have general accommodations for most campers/diseases but also provide individual accommodations for specific campers when necessary.
There are so many examples of how camp has made a positive impact on children with neurological conditions. The challenge course is always an emotional and inspiring activity area at camp. To see a child who has limited mobility scale the rock wall while the other campers and staff cheer them on is very powerful, you can almost see the change and positive impact as they’re climbing. When they return from the zip line, they have the biggest smiles and are beaming with confidence and an “I can do anything attitude.”
Meet the Expert
Meet Benjamin Ross, MD, Dr. Ben is our Medical Director at Roundup River Ranch, and he specializes in Child Neurology. He was first connected to camp when he came as a medical volunteer during Neurology Week 12 years ago!
He was inspired to go into Child Neurology because he has always enjoyed working with kids, and is fascinated with the brain and how it works. He said in medical school, his favorite rotation was pediatrics, and the rotation he found most interesting was neurology and neuroscience.
“Once I realized I could combine these interests together in one specialty, child neurology, the choice was clear. Working with children and families affected by neurologic diseases every day since then has reaffirmed, I made the correct choice.”
When asked what his favorite part about camp is, his response was, “Can I say everything? Probably seeing the kids happy, smiling, and having fun is the best part.”
Dr. Ben encourages everyone to remember that children with neurologic diseases are so much more than they may appear from a distance. “Get to know them and you will appreciate how amazing, kind, talented, funny, unique, and truly special they are.”
