Superior Care for Epilepsy and Other Seizures
If your child is experiencing seizures, has been recently diagnosed with epilepsy, or is still experiencing seizures despite treatment, we understand that you may have concerns. You may be worried about how epilepsy will affect their progress in school, what will trigger the next seizure, and how it will affect your child's emotional and social development. At the NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Pediatric Epilepsy Center, we partner with you to pinpoint what’s triggering your child's seizures and customize a plan of care to give your child the best quality of life possible.
24-Hour Video EEG for Epilepsy Diagnosis
Electroencephalography (EEG) is the gold standard for diagnosing epilepsy. We use advanced EEG technology to identify the location, type, and severity of your child's seizures. Video EEG can be performed on our Pediatric Inpatient Unit, and our Pediatric Intermediate Care Unit (PIMU) has private rooms hard-wired for 24-hour video EEG. Your child will benefit from nurses who provide warm, supportive care, helping to minimize any disturbances during the exam. Your child's care team will assess and interpret the EEG and design a treatment plan based on the results.
Neurogenetic Testing
Some seizure disorders have a genetic basis. We conduct neurogenetic testing onsite using a saliva or blood sample. Our doctors then use the results of this testing to develop your child's unique care plan.
Antiseizure Medications
There are a number of medications available to treat seizures in children. Together with you and your child, our team will choose the medications that are best suited to your child’s needs. We also have experience working with alternative treatments for rare syndromes that cause seizures, such as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome (DS).
Nutritional Counseling
The ketogenic diet is a precisely calculated diet to help control seizures. This diet is high in fat (the primary energy source), low in carbohydrates, and has enough protein to meet a child's needs for growth and development. Our supportive, onsite registered dietitian works closely with your family to help your child start and maintain the ketogenic diet.
Neuromodulation Therapy
For some children whose seizures are not well controlled with medication, neuromodulation may be an option. A small pacemaker-like device, called a vagal nerve stimulator (VNS), is implanted under the skin of your child's chest. It stimulates the nervous system and reduces the frequency and severity of seizures. If VNS is an option for your child, the device will be implanted at NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children's Hospital, and the programming and follow-up care can be performed at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens.
Epilepsy Surgery
Surgery for epilepsy involves removing tissue in the area of the brain where seizures begin. Children whose seizures are not well controlled with other methods may have this surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky and their evaluation and follow-up care at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens. Your child's doctor will let you know if epilepsy surgery is an appropriate treatment option.
Why Choose Us
NewYork-Presbyterian Queens offers the most comprehensive program in Queens for children and teens with epilepsy. In collaboration with our colleagues at NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky, your child has access to the full range of pediatric epilepsy diagnostic tests and treatments. Our physicians have advanced training and board certification in pediatric epilepsy care. Many patients are referred to us for our renowned 24-hour video EEG services. Call us for an appointment. If your child is experiencing seizures, we will be able to see you quickly—usually within a week, and sometimes even the same day.