Listen on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube
In this episode, I talk with pediatric nurse practitioner Melissa Smith about PANS/PANDAS and the sudden behavioral and neurological changes families may notice. We discuss infections, gut health, inflammation, neurotransmitters, testing, and why Melissa looks beyond a single trigger or diagnosis when supporting children. We also explore why a detailed history and individualized approach can help parents make sense of a complex picture.
About My Guest:
Melissa Smith is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and certified pediatric mental health specialist with experience in emergency care, intensive care, primary care, and pediatrics. Her interest in integrative medicine began after treating a child with PANDAS and seeing firsthand how deeper investigation could change a family’s path forward. Since then, she has pursued additional training in functional lab testing, nutritional therapy, and integrative approaches to care. Today, she works with children facing autoimmune, mental health, and other complex conditions, with a focus on looking beyond symptoms to understand better the factors affecting the whole child.
Key Takeaways:
Understand why PANS and PANDAS can appear as sudden OCD, tics, withdrawal, anger, mood changes, or other behavioral shifts, and why Melissa believes families should look beyond a single infection or psychiatric label.
Discover how gut imbalances, infections, inflammation, neurotransmitter activity, and other physiological factors may contribute to a child’s overall symptom picture and why rebuilding foundational health is central to Melissa’s approach.
Know why a detailed history, targeted testing, and individualized care can help parents connect symptoms that may otherwise seem unrelated and give them a clearer framework for discussing their child’s needs with practitioners.
Watch The Video Version
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Why is this happening to my kid and what can I do about it? If you are the parent of a developmentally delayed child then you’ve probably asked this question more than once. That’s where I come in! I’m Dr. Laura Hanson and I specialize in identifying the “why” and telling you the “what.” Join me every Thursday for a deeper look at how our brains are wired and how to get the most out of your mind. Are you looking to break negative patterns, overcome mood disorders, or optimize your potential? Maybe your child struggles with ADHD, OCD or other learning difficulties. Tune in to Connect My Brain, where I explain concepts like biofeedback and neurofeedback, brainwave frequencies, and much more. Let me help you change your life by changing your mind! Contact me HERE.
