Families today are seeing increasing rates of headaches, dizziness, fatigue, jaw pain and sensory overload in children and teenagers. The clinical team at NeuroPhysiotherapy Services, part of the PhysioXtra group, have been supporting Adelaide families for more than 20 years, with a strong commitment to specialised clinical interest areas and advanced assessment of complex neurological and vestibular conditions.
Children and adolescents are not simply “small adults”. Their nervous systems, balance systems, posture, movement control and stress responses are still developing, meaning symptoms can often overlap and require specialised assessment.
Concussion and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are increasingly recognised as more than just short-term sporting injuries. Children may continue to experience headaches, dizziness, visual strain, neck pain, fatigue, concentration difficulties and exercise intolerance long after the initial injury. Effective management often requires detailed assessment of the vestibular system, eye movements, cervical spine and nervous system regulation to support a safe return to school, sport and daily life.
Vestibular and dizziness presentations are also becoming increasingly common in senior school students. Long hours of study, screen exposure, poor posture, reduced core stability and stress can contribute to neck tension, headaches, balance problems and sensory overload. Many students describe feeling lightheaded, motion sensitive, visually overwhelmed or constantly fatigued. The team at NeuroPhysiotherapy Services provides specialist vestibular physiotherapy assessments to help identify the systems contributing to these symptoms and guide targeted rehabilitation.
Facial pain and TMJ dysfunction are another growing issue in adolescents, particularly during Years 11 and 12 when stress and anxiety levels are high. Jaw clenching and muscle tension can contribute to headaches, ear symptoms, facial pain, neck tension and migraine-like presentations. Because the jaw, trigeminal nerve and upper neck are closely connected within the nervous system, specialised assessment is important in identifying the true drivers of symptoms.
There is also increasing awareness of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) in children and teenagers. POTS involves dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system and may cause dizziness, rapid heart rate, fatigue, nausea, brain fog and exercise intolerance. Management often requires a highly individualised and multidisciplinary approach, including support for breathing, circulation, conditioning and nervous system regulation.
At NeuroPhysiotherapy Services, specialised knowledge is at the heart of every assessment and treatment plan. Early assessment and targeted intervention can make a significant difference to a child’s recovery, confidence, school participation and overall quality of life.
For more information about NeuroPhysiotherapy Services, contact the team on (08) 8331 2700
Email neuro@neurophysio.com.au
121 Glen Osmond Road, Eastwood
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