Treatments and Services
Seattle Children’s offers a wide range of treatments and services for all types of conditions that affect the brain and spinal cord. We have more pediatric on staff than any other hospital in the Pacific Northwest — with coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our and neurosurgeons work closely with experts in other fields, like , , , , and .
Babies, children, teens and young adults come to Seattle Children’s from across the nation and around the world.
See specific conditions to learn more about how we will care for your child.
Neurosciences Programs
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Brain Tumor Program
Our and work closely with other specialists at Seattle Children’s to create a custom care plan for your child. Because we care for so many children with brain or tumors each year, we have the experience to treat even the rarest conditions. We offer traditional open surgery and surgery for some types of brain tumors. Learn more about our Brain Tumor Program.
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Clínica de Neurología en Español
En la Clínica neurológica en español del Seattle Children’s nos esforzamos por ampliar el cubrimiento y mejorar la calidad de la atención neurológica para la comunidad hispana. Nuestro personal médico bilingüe ofrece atención médica y servicios en español, así como una amplia variedad de tratamientos para enfermedades del cerebro, la médula espinal, los nervios y los músculos. Asimismo, colaboramos con profesionales de otras especialidades como la rehabilitación, la terapia física y ocupacional, la neumología y la genética, entre otras. Cualquier paciente de entre 0 y 21 años de edad que haya sido referido a la clínica de neurología puede solicitar que su cita sea en la Clínica neurológica en español.
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Epilepsy Program
Our specialists are dedicated to helping your child live free. Our Level 4 accreditation from the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) recognizes that we perform a broad range of complex surgeries and give our patients access to more research studies, and advanced technologies to both diagnose and treat epilepsy. Learn more about our Epilepsy Program.
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Headache Program
Our Headache Program brings together an expert team to diagnose and treat your child’s headaches. Our providers specialize in helping children and teens prevent or manage frequent or complex headaches. We provide the most up-to-date and evidence-based therapies. These include , devices and numbing solution ( and ).
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Mitochondrial Medicine and Metabolism
Our team cares for children with disorders that affect mitochondria — parts of cells that help make energy. In mitochondrial diseases, these energy-making areas do not work as they should. Our team includes experts in many areas of medicine. To improve care and cure rates, we do research and offer access to new therapies being tested in . Learn more about our Mitochondrial Medicine and Metabolism Clinic.
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Movement Disorders and Complex Tics Program
Our Movement Disorders and Complex Tics Program provides comprehensive assessment, accurate diagnosis and custom treatment for children with hard-to-treat movement disorders. We care for babies, children and teens who have uncontrolled movements or conditions like . Our team of experts from different specialties focus on your child’s overall well-being. Learn more.
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Neuro NICU
Babies born with or at risk for a condition need special care to protect and heal their brain. Seattle Children’s Neuro NICU expert team provides treatment for your baby. We use advanced technology that lets us see and understand what is happening in and around your baby’s brain ( and neuroimaging). We have the only neonatal neurocritical care program in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho.
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Neurocritical Care Program
Seattle Children’s Neurocritical Care team treats children of all ages with a critical illness or injury that affects their brain, spinal cord or nerves. Experts from different specialties work together to care for your child during their hospital stay and through follow-up care after they leave the hospital. Learn more about our Neurocritical Care Program.
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Neurofibromatosis Program
Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a group of genetic conditions that cause tumors to grow along the body’s nerves or under the skin. Almost always the tumors are not cancer (benign). Seattle Children’s has the only pediatric neurofibromatosis program in the region, led by a neuro-oncologist with special training in treating children with NF. We are also the only pediatric hospital in the Pacific Northwest that has been designated as a Comprehensive Center for both Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and Schwannomatosis by the Children’s Tumor Foundation. Our multidisciplinary team treats your whole child, not just their disease. Learn more about our Neurofibromatosis program.
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Neuromodulation Program
Our Neuromodulation Program uses mild electrical pulses to prevent or lessen seizures in children with and to reduce muscle spasms in children with movement disorders. These devices can be life changing for children whose symptoms are not controlled by other treatments. We offer responsive neurostimulation (RNS), deep brain stimulation (DBS) and vagus neurostimulation (VNS). Learn more about our Neuromodulation Program.
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Neuromuscular Program
The Neuromuscular Program brings together a team of experts to evaluate and treat babies, children and teens with muscle or nerve problems that cause weakness. We provide care for conditions such as myotonic muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Our treatment options include gene therapy for SMA. Learn more about our Neuromuscular Program.
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Neuropsychology
Neuropsychologists are experts in brain development and how it affects a child’s learning and behavior. To help make the right diagnosis, we do many tests to check your child’s memory, attention, thinking, language skills, coordination, senses and personality. Our evaluations can help you and your child’s healthcare team pick strategies to help your child reach their potential. Learn more about our Neuropsychology service.
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Neurosurgery
Our neurosurgery team is among the most experienced in the nation and the most experienced by far in the Pacific Northwest. Our expertise and skilled use of advanced technology make brain surgery possible for more children, as well as safer and more precise. We use whenever possible to reduce pain and recovery time for your child. Our world-class team performs surgery for a broad range of neurological conditions. Learn more about our Neurosurgery Program.
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Neurotherapeutics Clinic
Neurogenetic conditions are conditions that affect the , such as the brain, or how nerves control muscles. Our neurotherapeutics team has expertise in diagnosing these rare conditions and access to research studies of promising new treatments such as . Learn more about our Seattle Children’s Neurotherapeutics Clinic.
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Pediatric Vascular Neurology Program
Our experts provide world-class care to children with cerebrovascular conditions like stroke that affect the brain’s blood flow. Seattle Children’s has the only pediatric vascular neurology program in Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. Our specialists are here when you need us, with a pediatric stroke expert and neurosurgeon available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Learn more about our Pediatric Vascular Neurology Program.
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Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Clinic
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare condition that causes tumors to grow in different parts of the body, especially the brain. Our clinic helps families get all the care they need in the fewest visits possible — from experts in the nervous system, heart, kidneys, skin and other systems. Learn more about Seattle Children’s Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Clinic.
Treatments and Diagnostics
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Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a way to take pictures of your child’s brain at work. It is like an MRI scan. But instead of just looking at the physical parts of your child’s brain, we look at the parts involved in specific activities. It is safer, cheaper, more efficient and more comfortable for your child than other tests that give us similar information. We use fMRI when treating children with epilepsy, brain tumors and cavernous malformations. Read about fMRI.
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Laser ablation surgery
This precise, uses light to remove and other . Seattle Children’s is among the few hospitals in the country to offer laser ablation surgery for epilepsy and brain tumors. Laser ablation may be a good choice, and even a cure, for children who have few or no other treatment options. Learn more.
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Robot-assisted neurosurgery
Robot-assisted neurosurgery uses an advanced surgical tool called ROSA Brain. ROSA combines a robotic arm with the ability to get detailed pictures of your child’s brain. Our neurosurgeons use ROSA to target areas of your child’s brain with more precision, without removing part of their skull (craniotomy). ROSA helps neurosurgeons treat children with and other problems more quickly, safely and effectively.
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Selective dorsal rhizotomy
Seattle Children’s is the only pediatric hospital in the Pacific Northwest to provide selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) to help kids gain mobility. Our neurosurgeons, rehabilitation medicine specialists and physical therapists work together to reduce spasticity, or high muscle tone, in your child’s legs. Our neurosurgeons are experts in implanting pumps to deliver medicine (baclofen) around the spinal cord to reduce severe spasticity resulting from , or brain and injury. Learn more.
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Stereo EEG (electroencephalography)
Stereo EEG (electroencephalography) is a to find the source of your child’s and help decide if surgery is a good option. During the stereo EEG, neurosurgeons use the ROSA robotic tool to place fine, flexible wires in your child’s brain (intracranial) to record electrical activity. We use stereo EEG in more than 80% of intracranial because it is safer and more precise than other ways to monitor seizures.
Related Services
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Concussion Program
Our program brings together some of the nation’s top experts on concussions and brain injuries to keep young athletes safe and healthy. Because of this expertise, we can evaluate, diagnose and manage any level of injury to your child’s brain. Learn more about our Concussion Program.
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Craniofacial Center
Our neurosurgeons work as a team with craniofacial surgeons and other experts to treat children with conditions that affect the bones of the face and skull. These include craniosynostosis, when a seam connecting the skull bones closes too soon. Our Craniofacial Center is among the few centers in the country to offer repair of some types of craniosynostosis, a .
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Fetal Care and Treatment Center
Seattle Children’s excels at treating brain and spinal cord conditions that are present at birth, such as myelomeningocele (spina bifida) and hydrocephalus. Our Fetal Care and Treatment Center works with families to diagnose disorders during pregnancy and prepare for the care their babies will need after birth. We help coordinate care for you during your pregnancy and for your child after birth. Learn more about our Fetal Care and Treatment Center.
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Inflammatory Brain Disorders Clinic
Some children with severe problems related to their thinking, learning or mental health have inflammatory brain disorders. Most often they happen because a child’s immune system attacks their brain (autoimmune). Scientists do not know what triggers this. We also call these conditions neuroinflammatory brain disorders. Our Inflammatory Brain Disorders Clinic brings together experts in neurosciences and rheumatology to diagnose and treat your child.
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Interventional Radiology
Interventional radiologists use imaging such as to find and correct problems without surgery. We have special training to work with kids, and we use equipment and techniques designed for children and teens. Our neurosciences and interventional radiology teams partner to select the best treatment for your child’s condition. Learn more.
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Neurodevelopmental
Seattle Children’s Neurodevelopmental team focuses on caring for children with special needs. Our team of doctors, nurses, , , and tailors our services to your child and family. We work with your family and other members of your child’s team, including their primary care doctor, teachers and community services. Learn more about our Neurodevelopmental Program.
Contact Us
For more information, contact the Neurosciences Center at 206-987-2016.
If you would like an appointment, ask your child’s primary care provider for a referral to the Neurosciences Center.
Providers, see how to refer a patient.
Telemedicine at Seattle Children’s
You may be offered a telehealth (virtual) appointment. Learn more.
Paying for Care
Learn about paying for care at Seattle Children’s, including insurance coverage, billing and financial assistance.