Introduction:
About 80% of children and adolescents have headache. The prevalence of migraine in children is about 8%. Sensory symptoms are common; before, during and after the migraine attacks. They may be a part of a wider concept called sensory processing disorders that include extreme hyper or hypo sensitivity to sensations. However, the knowledge about sensory processing patterns of children and youth with headaches as well as its interaction with child`s emotional aspects and quality of life is scarce.
Patients and Methods:
134 children between the ages of 8 and 12 participated in this study. 54 children (22 boys and 32 girls) with migraine were prospectively recruited from pediatric neurological clinics during the years 2014-2017. The control group included 80 healthy children. Both groups filled Health and demographic questionnaire, headache assessment including Ped-MIDAS, Short Sensory Profile, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) for children, Peadiatric Quality of Life Inventory.
Results:
Children with migraine showed significantly higher sensory reactivity and lower quality of life compared to healthy controls. Among children with migraine, sensory reactivity significantly correlated with and lower quality of life. Quality of life among children with migraine was predicted by sensory reactivity.
Conclusion:
Children with migraine show extremely different sensory patters than healthy controls. There is a strong connection between the altered sensory profile and low quality of life among migrainors. The implication to the treatment of migraine in children needs further studies.
