Pediatric Epilepsy Program

The Pediatric Epilepsy Program will help you and your child understand why their seizures have developed and then design a personalized treatment plan that best controls these seizures with the fewest possible side effects.

Epilepsy treatment options include anti-seizure medications (current and investigational), ketogenic diet and related diets, vagus nerve stimulator, or surgery. One form of epilepsy surgery, called lesionectomy, removes structural lesions of the brain such as certain tumors or congenital malformations, which can cause chronic seizures.

At your child’s first appointment, they will undergo a complete work-up, including a physical exam, patient history and EEG (a brain wave test that helps diagnose seizure disorders). You will also meet with a social worker who will educate you about seizures and address some of the non-medical issues, such as helping ensure your child's school is supportive.

We may also evaluate your child for school problems to determine whether seizures may be the cause. After the initial evaluation, a pediatric neurologist will meet with you and your child to discuss the best treatment options to reduce or eliminate her seizures.

If needed, your child may be placed in our epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) where advanced video EEG technologies are used to aid in diagnosis and treatment of the most complex seizure disorders. Through the recording of brain wave activity, we can determine if a seizure episode originates from the brain as well as identify the specific areas of the brain involved.