Neurological disorders

What are neurological disorders?

Neurological disorders are disorders that affect the brain, the spinal cord or nerves found throughout the body. Many neurological disorders in children are congenital, meaning they are birth defects or conditions that develop in the womb. Other types of neurological disorders develop later in a child's life.

Our approach to neurological disorders

The experts at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital are specially trained in caring for infants and children with a wide range of conditions, including:

• Autism spectrum disorder
• Brain tumor
• Cerebral palsy
• Epilepsy
• Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
• Stroke

We provide comprehensive care of children of all ages from diagnosis through treatment and, as needed, long-term follow-up.

Our pediatric neurosurgery program employs state-of-the-art techniques and technologies, with facilities specially designed to accommodate the smaller bodies of infants and children.

We also have several centers and programs focused on specific neurological conditions. These include:

• The UCSF Pediatric Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease Center, the only center in the country offering comprehensive care for childhood stroke and cerebrovascular disease
• The UCSF Pediatric Epilepsy Center, designated by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers as a level four center, which means it offers comprehensive, specialized care
• The UCSF Spina Bifida Program, one of only a few in Northern California, offering medical and social support and treatment for infants, children and adolescents with spina bifida and other birth defects affecting the spinal cord and nerves
• The UCSF Regional Pediatric Neuro-Immunology and Multiple Sclerosis Program, the only one of its kind on the West Coast to be designated as a center of excellence for comprehensive care of children and adolescents by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society