Child Neurology

ColumbiaDoctors Child Neurology maintains the highest standard of neurologic practice for pediatric patients and their families by combining the latest research and technological advances with individualized, compassionate care.

Pediatric neurologists at Columbia have a long history of caring for children with inborn errors of metabolism that involve the nervous system. Bernard Sachs, the founder of the child neurology division, described Tay-Sachs disease, and current faculty are in the forefront of knowledge concerning mitochondrial diseases, glucose transporter deficiency, lysosomal storage diseases, neuromuscular disorders, disorders of nervous system development and congenital disorders of glycosylation.

Our Specialists

ColumbiaDoctors Child Neurology is comprised of pediatric specialists in the areas of:

• Pediatric Epilepsy (Child & Adolescent)
• Pediatric Headache (Child & Adolescent)
• Pediatric Movement Disorders
• Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis/Autoimmune Disorders
• Pediatric Neurocritical Care
• Pediatric Neuromuscular Disorders
• Pediatric Neuropsychology
• Pediatric Sleep Disorders
• Pediatric Stroke
• Autism, Learning Disabilities, and Behavioral Neurology
• Fetal Neurology
• Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

Muscular Dystrophy Program

The Pediatric Muscular Dystrophy Association Program offers special expertise in neuromuscular disorders, and provides access to the expertise of physiatrists, orthopedists, pulmonologists, psychologists and therapists who work collaboratively with the coordinating neurologist. A specialized clinic has been established for the care of children with spinal muscular atrophy, with the generous support of the SMA Foundation.

Pediatric Epilepsy Center

The Pediatric Epilepsy Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital utilizes sophisticated diagnostic techniques, including video-encephalography (EEG) monitoring, biochemical and imaging modalities, to investigate children with seizure disorders. Some children benefit from surgery, which is guided by sophisticated brain mapping techniques. In all cases, therapy is tailored to the individual child, and options may include the full range of anti-epileptic medications, the ketogenic diet and vagus nerve stimulation. The Center is a major referral program for area neurologists for the treatment of intractable seizures.

An experienced multidisciplinary team, including neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists and neuro-oncologists, manages children with brain and spinal cord tumors. Many children have the opportunity to participate in trials of new therapies.

Our neurologists also investigate and manage cerebral palsy, developmental delay, autistic spectrum disorders, movement disorders, and chronic headache. They participate in the treatment of children with head and spinal trauma in collaboration with our pediatric neurosurgeons.

Conditions We Treat

• Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis
• Asperger’s syndrome
• Ataxia telangiectasia
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• Autism
• Autistic spectrum disorder
• Cerebral palsy and spasticity
• Chiari Malformation
• Neurodevelopmental disorders
• Neuroimmunological Disorders
• Pediatric Tourrette’s syndrome
• Pediatric arteriovenous malformations
• Pediatric ataxia
• Pediatric behavioral neurology
• Pediatric brain tumor
• Pediatric epilepsy
• Pediatric headache
• Pediatric intractable epilepsy
• Pediatric language problems
• Pediatric learning disabilities
• Pediatric migraine
• Pediatric movement disorders
• Pediatric multiple sclerosis
• Pediatric neuro-metabolic disorder
• Pediatric neurofibromatosis
• Pediatric neurology
• Pediatric neuromuscular disease
• Pediatric neuropsychology
• Pediatric seizure disorder
• Pediatric speech disorders
• Pediatric stroke
• Pediatric tic disorders
• Pervasive development disorder
• Spina bifida
• Spinal muscular atrophy
• Tuberous Sclerosis