Whether your child has a chronic condition such as a movement disorder or needs more urgent care for a neurological issue, our team can help.
Specialty Clinics
General Child Neurology
All of our neurologists care for children with a wide variety of common neurological disorders, including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and neurodevelopmental disabilities (developmental delay, autism, intellectual disability, ADHD, etc.) and assist with the evaluation of children with suspected neurogenetics or neurometabolic disorders. Two of our neurologists (Dr. Fteeh and Dr. Aaen) also have clinics at Riverside University Hospital and we have 3 child neurologists (Dr. Fteeh, Dr. Kim, and Dr. Aaen) who are involved at the SAC Health System clinics in San Bernardino.
Services/Conditions Treated
Pediatric Autoimmune Encephalitis Clinic
The pediatric autoimmune encephalitis clinic at Loma Linda University Health is dedicated to treating children and adolescents with NMDA receptor encephalitis, limbic encephalitis and associated neuro-immunological diseases. Our clinic is co-managed by pediatric neurologists and pediatric rheumatologists. To facilitate comprehensive care our team also includes pediatric rehabilitation physicians and neuropsychologists.
Services/Conditions Treated
Pediatric Neurology Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorder Center
The Pediatric Neurology Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorder Center (CPMDC) at Loma LInda University Health aims to excel in the care of children with complex motor disorders. These include children affected by cerebral palsy and other movement disorders manifest by dystonia, choreoathetosis, ataxia, and other motor disorders. The CPMDC aims to coordinate care starting as early as the prenatal period with care provided over a person's infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. The CPMDC aims to provide multidisciplinary and comprehensive care for children and families affected by complex motor disorders.
Services/Conditions Treated
Complex Epilepsy Team Center
The Complex Epilepsy Team Center (CETC) is a CCS clinic for children with medically intractable epilepsy. Staffed by epileptologists, nurse practitioners, dieticians, social workers, and nurses, the CETC specializes in the treatment of epilepsy in children who do not respond to conventional epilepsy medications. Treatment options offered at the CETC include 1) evaluation for epilepsy surgery, 2) evaluation and management of the Ketogenic Diet and other dietary treatments of epilepsy, and 3) neuromodulation, including the Vagal Nerve Stimulator.
Epilepsy Surgery Conference
Epilepsy Surgery Conference is a collaborative effort in the evaluation and management of people with medically intractable epilepsy who may be epilepsy surgery candidates. Staffed by adult and pediatric neurosurgeons, epileptologists, neuroradiologists, neuropsychologists, and nursing coordinators, this clinic meets weekly to evaluate adults and children for epilepsy surgery. Clinical history, EEGs, Imaging (MRI, PET scans, SPECT scans), and neuropsychological testing (clinical, fMRI, Wada) are reviewed to determine the safety and efficacy of any resective surgical procedure.
Services/Conditions Treated
Pediatric Headaches Clinic
Recurrent headaches can be disruptive to a child's life and keep them from fully participating in everyday childhood activities, resulting in missed school, lower academic performance, difficulty sleeping, and changes to family life. The Pediatric Headache Clinic utilizes the latest treatments for acute attacks and preventive therapies, as well as providing headache education and guidance for lifestyle changes so that children and families can learn to manage their headaches in order to help maximize the potential growth and development of each child. Dr. Priscilla Chee provides the evaluation and management of the pediatric patients at the Pediatric Headache Clinic.
Ketogenic Diet
The ketogenic diet has been available for more than 70 years and is most typically employed in children with medically refractory seizures. The diet involves minimizing carbohydrate and protein intake while increasing the amount of fats in the diet. This causes the body to make ketone bodies that work in the brain to help suppress seizure activity. Specialized clinic staff, including epileptologists, dieticians, and nurse practitioners, closely monitor and guide families for optimizing the diet to maintain ketosis.
Mitochondrial Disorders Clinic
Mitochondrial disorders are the most common type of inborn error of metabolism and can cause a wide range of problems including failure to thrive, gastrointestinal problems, weakness, muscle cramps, fatigue, hearing loss, visual loss, loss of balance and coordination, seizures, and learning delays. The Mitochondrial Disorders Clinic at Children's Health cares for children with diagnosed or suspected mitochondrial disorders, providing assistance and guidance with testing and therapy. The clinic is directed by Dr. David Michelson.
Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is usually considered an adult onset disease. However, about five percent of people with MS develop disease symptoms before the age of 18. Since MS is not widely recognized as a childhood disorder, diagnosis is often missed or delayed. In addition, many of its symptoms are similar to those of other pediatric neurological conditions. An estimated 8,000-10,000 children have multiple sclerosis in the United States, and another 10,000-15,000 experience disorders that may be related to MS. Children with MS can experience weakness, fatigue, numbness and tingling, vision problems, loss of balance, difficulty concentrating or remembering, and seizures. Many of these symptoms are "invisible," vary in intensity, and can come and go.
The Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Clinic at Loma Linda University Health assesses and treats children and adolescents with multiple sclerosis and related disorders such as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and neuromyelitis optica. To provide comprehensive care our team includes pediatric neurologists, pediatric neuro-ophthalmologists, pediatric rehabilitation physicians and neuropsychologists. The clinic is a member of the United States Network of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Centers and collaborates with other scientists investigating these diseases. We coordinate with our adult multiple sclerosis clinic to ensure smooth transitions of care.
Pediatric Neuro-Assessment Program
The Pediatric Neuro-Assessment Program (PNAP) is a comprehensive assessment and diagnostic program developed to address the unique needs of preschool and school-aged children with academic or behavioral problems. PNAP has successfully helped over 200 children obtain necessary interventions to optimize their development and to identify etiologies of academic or behavioral concerns.
PNAP utilizes a multidisciplinary team approach that integrates neurological, psychosocial, cognitive, and neuropsychological evaluations to develop individualized treatment plans, ensure continuity of follow-up, and provide appropriate medication management.
For questions or appointments for the Pediatric Neuro-Assessment Program, contact (909) 651-1899.
Neurofibromatosis Clinic
Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disorder that causes excessive growth of different tissues of the body. Neurofibromatosis Type I has dark skin spots which appear soon after birth with other findings such as developmental problems, learning disabilities, bony growth abnormalities, scoliosis, hormone abnormalities, and benign tumors in the brain, nerves, eyes and skin developing as the child gets older. Neurofibromatosis type II is characterized by tumors of the eighth cranial nerves, which affect hearing with an average age of onset in the teen years. The Neurofibromatosis Clinic at LLUCH cares for both NF I and NF II patients. Dr. Stanford Shu is the clinic Director.
Neuromuscular Clinic
The Pediatric Neuromuscular Clinics at Loma Linda University Health assess and treat children and adolescents with genetic and acquired disorders involving the muscles, nerves, and neuromuscular junctions such as congenital myopathy, muscular dystrophy, peripheral neuropathy, and myasthenia gravis. To provide comprehensive care, our Pediatric Team Center clinic provides access to pediatric neurology, pulmonology, cardiology, nutrition, social work, and physical and occupational therapy. The clinic assists families with entry into research studies both at LLU and elsewhere and coordinates provision of novel therapies such as Exondys51 and Spinraza. Satellite clinics in Upland, Murrieta, Hesperia, and Indio are available to improve ease of access.
Muscular dystrophy
The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Clinic at Children's Health has been caring for patients with neuromuscular disorders for over 30 years. The most common disorders seen include Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, and myotonic dystrophy. This clinic is directed by Dr. David Michelson. There is also a focus on the orthopedic and rehabilitation needs of children with these disorders while working closely with rehabilitation medicine and organizations such as California Children's Services.
Services/Conditions Treated
Pediatric Stroke Clinic
The Pediatric Stroke Clinic at Children's Health follows children of all ages who have had acute strokes. Despite the thought that a stroke is an "old person's disease," it is not an uncommon event in children. Strokes in a child may have variable presentation and are not always recognized as a stroke. Several of the child neurologists at LLUH care for these patients, including Dr. Ashwal and Dr. Gamil Fteeh, both of whom have special expertise in this area and are members of the International Pediatric Stroke Study group, an international organization that promotes research in pediatric stroke.
Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic
The Pediatric Traumatic Brian Injury (TBI) Clinic's primary purpose is to assist children who have developed physical, cognitive, and behavioral impairments as a result of traumatic brain injury. Dr. Stephen Ashwal, the clinic director, has over 40 years of clinical practice in pediatric neurology and is internationally recognized for his expertise in the field of pediatric TBI.
Tuberous Sclerosis Clinic
The Tuberous Sclerosis Clinic at Children's Health provides care for children and adults with tuberous sclerosis, a multi-system disorder that frequently affects brain function, causing seizures, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems. Other commonly affected organs include the kidneys, lungs, heart, and skin. The clinic meets weekly. All patients receive a comprehensive evaluation by Dr. Stephen Ashwal. When other organ systems are affected, patients are referred for care to the appropriate pediatric or adult specialist. In addition, as complex epilepsty is common in individuals with Tuberous Sclerosis, patients are frequently referred to the pediatric and adult epilepsy services for comprehensive evaluations to see if they may be candidates for epilepsy surgery.
Vagus Nerve Stimulator Clinic
The vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) is an implantable device used for the treatment of medically intractable epilepsy. Patients undergo rigorous evaluation to ensure that their seizures are not amenable to surgical resection and that VNS implantation is an optimal choice. Following implantation, the patient is followed closely for VNS setting adjustments to maximize seizure control and, when possible, decrease medications. Approximately 160 patients at LLUCH have VNS devices. These devices are managed by all the pediatric epileptologists (Dr. Loeb, Tang-Wai, Pichon, and Sallowm), as well as several of the pediatric neurologists (Drs. Shu and Michelson). There is a weekly VNS clinic where patients of any provider can be scheduled for VNS adjustment, while long-term care is continued by the patient’s primary neurologist.
Whole Person Care Preceptorship
The Whole Person Care Preceptorship through Loma Linda University School of Medicine is a 5 week course that teaches health care students from medicine, dentistry, nursing, and allied health to address the spiritual needs and coping mechanisms of their patients. More than 60 students from more than 50 different schools in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, India, and China participate each year. The students receive didactic lectures in the morning from faculty from Loma Linda University, UCLA, Talbot Seminary, and other schools as to how to integrate their faith into their practice and how to ethically get a spiritual history and address the spiritual needs of their patients as per the Joint Commission requirements. In the afternoons, the students shadow different health care providers, participate in a simulation laboratory, or see patients in the hospital. Small group sessions are done in the evenings. Seminars on different topics are done each weekend. Dr. Stanford Shu is the Medical Director of the preceptorship, which has done annually since 2001.
Call 1-909-651-1810 to make an appointment with a pediatric neurology specialist at Loma Linda University Children’s Health.
