The former AS Roma captain discussed Cristian during an interview with Corriere dello Sport to mark his 50th birthday, explaining that his son had suffered frequent headaches from a young age.
"Because he had a problem with his head. He had a CT scan for his nose and they discovered a problem that was resolved," Totti said.
"They found an obstruction in the aqueduct of Silvio. I'm not a doctor, I'm telling you as they explained it to me: not all the fluid was reaching the brain. From a young age he had frequent headaches. But he was always on the move and nobody had ever worried."
Totti also reflected on the way his own father influenced his approach to raising children. He described his father as demanding and said compliments were rare during his own playing days.
"When you have a father who teaches you values and good manners, that's already a lot, it's everything," Totti said.
"In 30, 35 years, I started very young, never a compliment. I dreamed that he would tell me, 'Wow, today you were really good.' But if I scored two goals, he would say I was rubbish because I should have scored three."
Totti admitted that he has adopted some of the same approach with his own children.
"Sometimes I complained to my mother. 'Why does Dad always say that to me?' And she said: 'He does it on purpose. He's happy, he's really happy with you.' I do the same with my children."
Cristian initially wanted to pursue another sport before eventually deciding that football was what he wanted.
"At first he wanted to be a tennis player and I was extremely happy. Then suddenly he changed. 'Dad, I want to become a footballer.' I couldn't tell him anything other than, 'Do the sport you like,'" Totti said.
"The important thing is that you do it with the right attitude, with dedication, desire and respect."
The former Italy international said the attention surrounding his surname made Cristian's experience particularly difficult as he grew older.
"Very difficult. Initially he wanted to be a tennis player and I was delighted. Then he decided he wanted to become a footballer," Totti said.
"As he grew up, he encountered the cruelty of others. Speaking badly about a boy of 12 or 15 years old is shameful. It hurt me."
Totti's comments offered a glimpse into the personal difficulties experienced by his son away from the pitch, while also explaining why Cristian ultimately stepped away from football.