Basal ganglia calcification is a disorder characterized by abnormal calcium deposits in the basal ganglia and areas of the cerebral cortex of the brain; affecting movement, awareness, memory, motor skills, as well as causing psychiatric and behavioral difficulties. Although considered rare, basal ganglia calcification is thought to be underdiagnosed because calcium deposits are only recognized through brain imaging tests. (Josiah, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health). This condition can be very frustrating for the individual, as well as for the family. From the age of five, my daughter Brittany began to exhibit several disabilities including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities, short stature, and hand tremors. , all without known cause or causal link. However, at the age of thirteen, she was diagnosed with calcification of the basal ganglia, after a CT scan performed to diagnose a sudden onset of severe headaches revealed the existence of calcium deposits. Although the CT scan was not a determining factor in diagnosing the root cause of his headaches, it was a key factor in determining the possible cause of his known disabilities. Although the cause of basal ganglia calcification is unknown, it has been associated with toxic exposure, such as carbon monoxide poisoning; infections, such as congenital conditions, tuberculosis, AIDS; metabolic imbalances, such as thyroid disorders, and genetic disorders, such as mitochondrial diseases (MELAS), Cockayne syndrome, and pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN), also known as Hallervorden-Spatz (Knipe) syndrome. Calcification of the basal ganglia can cause psychiatric disorders and b...... middle of paper ......nd Hearing Center, Plattsburgh State University. Plattsburgh, New York. October 5, 2009.Drugs.com. Propranolol. Network. December 5, 2013.Reference Genetics Home: Your Guide to Understanding Genetic Conditions. "Familial idiopathic calcification of the basal ganglia". United States Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. November 12, 13. Web. November 14, 2013. Josiah, Andy. “What is basal ganglia calcification?” Wise geek. October 19, 2013. Web. November 19, 2013. Knipe, MD Henry and Gaillard, MD, Frank, et al, UMB Medica Network. Radiopedia.orgWeb. November 16, 2013. NINDS Fahr Syndrome information page. "What is Fahr syndrome." National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). February 13, 2007. Web. November 19, 2013Phillips, Michael, MD. Radiological report: brain without contrast medium. Champlain Valley Medical Center. 14 October 2005 Forte, Brittany. Personal interview. November 16 2013.