Though scoliosis — an abnormal “S” or “C”-shaped sideways spinal curvature — is most often diagnosed in children and adolescents, it can go undetected. This is especially true if symptoms aren’t severe and parents aren’t aware of potential signs to look for.
The vast majority of scoliosis cases diagnosed in this age group, or about 85%, are idiopathic, meaning that we can’t link the condition to a root cause.
Dr. Benjamin Cohen has successfully treated many patients of all ages living with scoliosis, helping them live more comfortably and enjoy a higher quality of life. He has years of experience researching, diagnosing, and caring for patients with scoliosis.
Dr. Cohen works to partner with parents so their children can be diagnosed as promptly as possible and treated appropriately.
Every parent feels invested in doing all they can to support their child’s wellbeing, and timely diagnosis and treatment are critical for a child or teen to receive the most effective, successful scoliosis treatment.
But the subtlety of scoliosis symptoms can make an accurate diagnosis during childhood challenging.
Though scoliosis’ more obvious, severe symptoms are easy to spot — like clear hip or shoulder asymmetry or painful muscle spasms — others may be overlooked.
Parents should be aware of these signs to detect even subtle symptoms of scoliosis.
Especially if your child is on the thin side, prominent shoulder blades and ribs are typical, but if they seem to protrude more than before and look uneven, this could point to scoliosis.
Observe how your child’s clothing fits; scoliosis may cause it to hang unevenly or incorrectly.
Pay particular attention to whether the neckline of your child’s T-shirt is rumpled or if skirts or shorts are hanging oddly.
This isn’t something that would necessarily lead you to think “scoliosis” right away, but if you see that your child has recently started leaning more to one side, it could be related to a spinal curvature.
Sometimes this skin becomes discolored or hairy patches appear when scoliosis is present. You might also notice skin dimpling in this area.
You know your child best, and understanding that these are all signs of potential scoliosis means that you can schedule an appointment with Dr. Cohen for an exam.
In the past five years, there has been concern that, due to the pandemic and increased virtual learning, children are being diagnosed with scoliosis less frequently because school nurses, who typically identified symptoms, are less involved.
The sooner your child receives treatment for scoliosis, the more favorable the outcome. More severe curvatures require more complex treatments, such as stabilization surgery, which involves the placement of metallic implants.
If your child’s scoliosis is mild and caught in its early stages, it may require no treatment at all, or Dr. Cohen might recommend:
Dr. Cohen has helped countless families uncover and effectively treat their children’s scoliosis, so the condition doesn’t progress to a more serious stage requiring intensive intervention.
Contact our Garden City office at 516-246-5008 to schedule an appointment or message us through our website.
