Epilepsy Programs for Children & Young Adults
The Comprehensive Epilepsy Center programs accept self-referrals from parents. Referrals from primary care physicians/pediatricians and neurologists are also welcome.
As a part of the #1 pediatric hospital in the U.S., our goals are to help your child achieve the following outcomes:
- Become seizure free or reduce the number and severity of seizures.
- Reduce the risk of falls or injuries from seizures, especially with growth
- Aid in development by helping every child make progress in school and everyday activities of life
- Reduce the need for some or all anti-seizure medications
New Onset Seizure Program
The New Onset Seizure Program provides comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for children (older than two years of age) who have recently begun having seizures. We usually are able to schedule a child’s first appointment within two weeks of the family’s initial phone call to our clinic.
Infant Seizure Program
The Infant Seizure Program is for children ages one to 23 months who are experiencing seizures.
Young children tend to respond better to treatment when it begins sooner rather than later. This is especially important for children experiencing infantile spasms.
We work quickly to conduct appropriate tests that help pinpoint the underlying cause. Sometimes, the infant is admitted to the hospital for these tests, but in many cases tests take place on an outpatient basis.
Pinpointing the cause of seizures in an infant can take a few days or weeks. Sometimes, an exact diagnosis is not possible. Depending on the complexity of your child’s condition, the team may decide to begin treatment while diagnostic tests are still taking place. Treatment can include medication and the use of specialized formula, and our team monitors patients very closely, making adjustments when necessary.
Advanced Therapies Program (Second Opinions for Hard-to-Control Seizures)
The Epilepsy Advanced Therapies Program offers comprehensive evaluations and treatment recommendations for children with seizures/epilepsy who:
- Have tried at least one anti-seizure medication without achieving effective seizure control
- Have questions or concerns about their diagnosis of seizures / epilepsy or the underlying cause
Epilepsy Surgery Program
We offer one of the only pediatric epilepsy surgery programs in the country. The program is designed to help children and young adults whose seizures have not responded to two or more anti-epileptic medications.
Our team performs more than 50 epilepsy surgeries each year. The goal of epilepsy surgery is to dramatically reduce the severity and frequency of seizures and, when possible, eliminate them altogether.
Learn more about surgical treatment options for epilepsy.
Epilepsy Sleep Program
This unique multidisciplinary program evaluates sleep problems in children who have epilepsy. Diagnosing and treating such problems can help improve seizure control and enhance your child’s quality of life.
The Epilepsy-Sleep Program team includes physicians and staff from the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and Sleep Center at Cincinnati Children’s:
- A pediatric epileptologist (child neurologist who specializes in epilepsy care), neurologist and pulmonologists who are board certified in sleep medicine
- Nurse practitioners and nurses
We offer state-of-the-art diagnostic tests, such as a “combined video EEG-sleep study” that includes video EEG monitoring and an overnight sleep study, which allows us to evaluate your child in one overnight stay. Cincinnati Children’s is one of only a few pediatric hospitals in the country to offer this combined test.
During your first visit, one of our physicians will thoroughly evaluate your child and, if necessary, schedule a sleep study. If your child undergoes a sleep study, we will discuss the results and recommend treatment strategies in a follow-up appointment, and provide ongoing care as needed.