Facts

  • Children develop motor (movement) skills (e.g. sitting, walking, running) at different rates, and it is normal to see a variation between children in the age at which they develop these skills.
  • A loss of previously-attained motor skills (motor regression) or a reduction in motor skills may be caused by a serious illness, including a brain tumour.
  • Where a child's neck is stiff, or their head is in an abnormal position compared to the rest of their body (head tilt or wry neck), this too can be a sign of a brain tumour.
  • Brain tumours can initially cause subtle changes in motor skills such as a change in hand or foot preference or loss of learned skills, e.g. ability at computer games and handwriting.
  • Any child who develops a new persistent change (lasting two or more weeks) or loss of motor skills requires an assessment to determine the cause.

Preschool under 5

Brain tumours in children in this age group may cause problems with balance and walking, or with an abnormal head position, or both.

Children with balance or walking problems may become more unsteady when moving around, and stumble or fall over more often. Some children with balance or movement problems may stop walking and revert to cruising or crawling; doctors describe this as a regression (loss of) motor skills.

Brain tumours at the back or base of the head may cause:

  • stiff neck
  • development of a head tilt (in which a child holds their head or neck at an awkward angle, in a twisted position or some other unusual way)
  • development of a wry neck (in which a child has difficulty in turning their head.)

    Any child with poor balance/walking, or with problems with their neck should be seen by a doctor. If they have both of these symptoms, or one of them accompanied by one or more other symptoms from the HeadSmart symptoms list, an urgent appointment should be made

    Select for more general information for parents and carers.

Children 5-11

Brain tumours in children in this age group may cause problems with balance and walking, or with an abnormal head position, or both.

Brain tumours at the back or base of the head may cause:

  • development of an unusual gait (walking pattern)
  • feeling unsteady when walking, and needing to hold on to another person or a handrail/wall
  • stumbling or falling over more often

Head and neck problems may cause:

  • stiff neck
  • development of a head tilt (in which a child holds their head or neck at an awkward angle, in a twisted position or some other unusual way)
  • development of a wry neck (in which a child has difficulty in turning their head.)

Any child with poor balance/walking, or with problems with their neck should be seen by a doctor. If they have both of these symptoms, or one of them accompanied by one or more other symptoms from the HeadSmart symptoms list, an urgent appointment should be made

Select for more general information for parents and carers.

Young adult 12-18

In young people, the main movement problems associated with brain tumours are poor balance and co-ordination.

Balance problems may cause children to feel unsteady when walking (needing to hold on to a handrail or wall) or stumbling or falling over.

Co-ordination problems may lead to a feeling of movements not being 'together', and difficulty in doing activities requiring carefully coordinated movements, such as art and craft, sports, computer games, playing a musical instrument.

Young people with poor balance and coordination should be seen by a doctor. If this is accompanied by one or more other symptoms from the HeadSmart symptoms list, an urgent appointment should be made.

If you are a young person and you are concerned about your symptoms, it's best to get them, checked out by your GP.

Select for more information about seeing your GP.

If you are a parent or carer of a young person, and you are concerned about their symptoms, explain that you think they should go to the GP and offer to make them an appointment. Bare in mind that, depending on their age and circumstances, they may choose to go to the GP on their own, although many appreciate having a parent or carer with them, whatever their age.

Select for more general information for parents and carers.

Be aware

If you are worried about the child, make an appointment with your doctor.
If the symptoms of signs are sudden onset or severe, either take them to the emergency department or call 999