Pediatric Neurology

Our board certified neurologists will assess your child's symptoms and conditions during your first visit. Different tests may be ordered depending on your child’s specific condition. Our neurologists collaborate with many pediatric experts, including developmental pediatricians, neurosurgeons, ophthalmologists, rehabilitation specialists and psychiatrists.

Recognized for Excellence

Our pediatric neurologists are highly trained in the best avenues of care for any neurologic need your child may have. The child neurology team at Riley Children's works seamlessly with other teams to provide complete, comprehensive care. These pediatric experts have developed many subspecialty programs to provide your child the most advanced care.

Our staff includes pediatric and adult epileptologists who specialize in treating epilepsy and seizures. We work with the Neurosurgery Department at Riley to provide the only comprehensive pediatric epilepsy surgery program in Indiana. Indiana University Health houses the only Level IV Specialized Epilepsy Center in the state.

Riley is home to Indiana’s only pediatric headache program, pediatric stroke program and neurogenetics program. The only board certified pediatric headache specialist in the state directs our comprehensive Headache Program, along with a dedicated child psychologist who is trained in pediatric pain management. The only fellowship-trained pediatric stroke specialist in the state runs our stroke program.

Our Neurogenetics Program is directed by the only dually board certified pediatric neurologist/clinical geneticist in the state. Members of this program are also intimately involved with our muscular dystrophy and neurocutaneous disorders programs and are members of the national mitochondrial medicine consortium.

Finally, our Neuro-NICU Program provides leading edge, evidence-based longitudinal care to critically ill neonates with neurologic injury, seizures and other disorders.

This level of clinical excellence ranks Riley among the top neurology and neurosurgery programs in the nation by U.S.News & World Report.

Why Riley Children's Health?

Pediatric Neurology at Riley Children's combines all-inclusive services with the largest pediatric neurology group in Indiana to treat brain, spinal cord and other nervous system injuries and disorders in children:

• Specialized service. Every doctor on the pediatric neurology team is trained in both pediatrics and child neurology, and each neurologist specializes in specific conditions and disorders. The team operates both general and subspecialty programs with access to other specialties as needed to treat many conditions in one location.
• Complete diagnostic resources. The neurologists and nurses with Riley are able to perform many diagnostic tests to provide the most accurate diagnosis for your child. We provide 24-hour continuous EEG monitoring for epilepsy and seizure diagnosis and monitoring, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and spinal cord and electromyography (EMG) to test nerve function. We also perform lumbar punctures and skin biopsies and use the best local and national laboratory resources.
• Pediatric genetic counseling. If your child is diagnosed with a genetic disorder of the nervous system, we offer pediatric neurogenetic counseling to help your family understand the specifics behind the disorder and how it may affect your child and family.
• Customized treatments. We provide highly specialized and effective treatments for many neurologic conditions. We work with the Pediatric Neurosurgery Department at Riley to perform vagal nerve stimulator (VNS) surgery to help control seizures. We also train patients and families to manage epilepsy using dietary measures such as a ketogenic diet.
• Seizure surgery expertise. We are the only hospital in Indiana that performs pediatric surgery to reduce or stop frequent seizures caused by epilepsy. We care for some of the most vulnerable neurology patients. These children may experience multiple seizures every day. If your child does not respond to epilepsy medicines, we can work with the neurosurgery team to see if epilepsy surgery would be an appropriate next step. Most children who have seizure surgery are free of seizures a year or two after the procedure and may no longer need medicines.
• Coordinated care. Your child's care may benefit from the additional services provided by the IU Health Neuroscience Center. This premier center provides comprehensive neurological services in one place for a more integrated approach to care. Services provided at the IU Health Neuroscience Center include a pediatric neuropsychology program, electrodiagnostic testing and transitional care into adulthood.

Our pediatric neurologists provide expert evaluation and management of childhood neurologic disorders and use a multidisciplinary approach to give your child optimal care.

Nationally ranked neurological care

Riley Children’s Health Neurology & Neurosurgery is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report. Our teams see patients from throughout the Midwest and routinely treat the most complicated issues. Committed to treating any neurological need a patient may have, the teams have developed a number of specialty programs, including headache and other chronic needs as well as the only comprehensive pediatric surgical epilepsy program in Indiana.