At Children's Wisconsin, your child's health comes first. Our Epilepsy Center is recognized by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) as a Level 4 Epilepsy Center, the highest level of specialized care. We are proud to be the only freestanding pediatric Level 4 epilepsy center in Wisconsin, dedicated exclusively to children and families. This means your child has access to the most advanced treatments and resources available for epilepsy, all in one place.  

• Multiple board-certified, experienced pediatric epileptologists and neurosurgeons focused on children's care
• A high-volume Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU), ensuring expertise and experience in diagnosis
• Advanced tools such as including high resolution MRI, functional MRI, positron emission tomography (PET), magnetoencephalography (MEG) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), and other leading technologies to understand your child’s epilepsy
• Expert neuropsychology and rehabilitation services to support every aspect of your child’s development
• Access to the most advanced medical, dietary, and surgical treatments available

We are committed to advancing outcomes for children with epilepsy through leading-edge care, research and collaborative partnerships with referring providers.

Diagnosing your child

An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test that records the brain’s electrical activity. Small electrodes are placed on your child’s scalp to measure signals in the brain. In many cases, a full evaluation requires admitting your child to the hospital for video EEG monitoring, which takes place in our specialized Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU).

Our EMU is a state-of-the-art evaluation center equipped with advanced technology. Here, our specialists observe your child while recording brain activity and correlate with clinical changes. We also have portable EEG units, which allow our EMU to provide remote monitoring for patients are admitted in other units in our hospital including PICU and NICU units.

The diagnostic evaluation is tailored to the individual patient and often includes a variety of advanced imaging, a neuropsychological evaluation and genetic testing. All of the information gathered about your child during this evaluation is used to properly diagnose the type of seizures your child has and to develop an optimal treatment plan. All of the information gathered helps our team determine the type of seizures your child is experiencing and guides the development of an individualized treatment plan.

Treating your child’s epilepsy

At Children’s Wisconsin, we know that every child’s experience with epilepsy is unique. That’s why our specialists create an individualized treatment plan tailored to your child’s specific needs. The right approach depends on the type and severity of seizures, but with proper treatment, most children are able to live full, active lives with only minor adjustments.

Treatments options may include:

• Antiepileptic medications: Medication is usually the first step in managing seizures. There are many different options, and our team carefully selects the right medication based on your child’s seizure type, age, potential side effects, and other important factors such as cost and ease of use.
• Dietary therapy: The ketogenic diet is a special high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet can help control seizures in selected cases of children with epilepsy. With ketogenic diet, some children are able to reduce the amount of medication they need. If this option is recommended, a dedicated dietitian will work closely with your family to carefully plan and monitor your child’s progress.
• Epilepsy surgery and implantable devices: For some children, medication may not provide enough seizure control. In these cases, epilepsy surgery may be the best option. The Pediatric Epilepsy Center at Children’s Wisconsin is home to one of the nation’s leading pediatric epilepsy surgery programs, offering a full range of advanced surgical procedures and implantable devices designed specifically for children.

A variety of advanced surgical techniques are available to treat pediatric epilepsy. The most appropriate option is determined through a comprehensive pre-surgical evaluation, ensuring each child receives the safest and most effective approach.

The main categories of therapeutic epilepsy surgery include:

Resection Procedures

The most common epilepsy surgery involves removing (resecting) the area of the brain where seizures begin. Resections can be small and highly targeted, while limiting any functional impairment. Disconnecting an entire hemisphere of the brain (hemispherectomy).

Stereotactic Laser Ablation

This minimally invasive technique uses a laser to destroy seizure-causing brain tissue or tumors without removing them. Benefits include a shorter hospital stay (often just one night), less discomfort, and reduced risk. Children’s Wisconsin is one of the few hospitals in the nation and the only one in Wisconsin offering this advanced technology.

Stimulation Therapies

• Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS): A small device is implanted to send very small electrical signals to the brain through the vagus nerve. VNS often reduces seizure frequency and severity, though it usually does not completely stop seizures.
• Responsive Neurostimulation (RNS): RNS involves placing a device directly on or inside the brain to detect abnormal electrical activity and deliver targeted stimulation to stop seizures before they occur.
• Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS): DBS uses electrodes placed in specific brain regions to deliver continuous electrical impulses, helping reduce seizure activity in children with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Disconnection Procedure:

In some cases, rather than removing brain tissue, surgeons may disconnect the seizure-producing area from the rest of the brain. By interrupting the pathways that allow seizures to spread, seizures can be reduced or eliminated.

• Hemispherectomy/Hemispherotomy: In severe cases, an entire hemisphere (half of the brain) may be disconnected from the other half. This is most often considered when seizures are widespread and disabling but limited to one hemisphere.
• Corpus Callosotomy: This procedure involves cutting the corpus callosum, the major connection between the two hemispheres of the brain. While it typically does not eliminate seizures entirely, it is especially effective in reducing the severity and spread of drop attacks (atonic seizures), which can cause sudden falls and injuries.
• Other Disconnection Procedures: These surgeries involve cutting specific connections to reduce the spread and severity of seizures.

Multiple Hippocampal Transections (MHT)

The hippocampus, a deep brain structure important for memory, is often a source of seizures. MHT modifies the hippocampus to stop seizures while preserving memory function, making it an important option for select patients.

Excellent clinical care and research: We pride ourselves on providing excellent clinical care for your child with epilepsy. We rely on innovative research while advancing the development of pediatric neurological, neuropsychological, neurosurgical and neurological rehabilitative treatment options.

Wisconsin’s only Level 4 Pediatric Epilepsy Center: The Pediatric Epilepsy Center at Children’s Wisconsin is recognized by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) as a Level 4 Epilepsy Center - the highest designation possible. This means we provide the most advanced, comprehensive, and specialized care for children with epilepsy. We are also proud to be the only freestanding pediatric Level 4 epilepsy center in Wisconsin.

Outpatient EEG testing across Wisconsin: To make care more convenient for families, we provide outpatient EEG testing not only at our Milwaukee campus, but also at five regional clinic locations in New Berlin, Delafield, Mequon, Kenosha and Appleton. This means children and families across southeastern Wisconsin can access expert care closer to home. Our EEG services meet the highest national standards. We hold both ABRET-EEG and ABRET-LTM accreditations, which recognize excellence in technical quality and ensure that every child’s results are accurate, reliable, and trusted by providers nationwide.

High national rankings: The Neurosciences Center at Children's Wisconsin ranks among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report. Our Neuroimaging Program has been designated a Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology, making it the third pediatric hospital in the United States to earn the award.

Outstanding surgical quality: We're the only Level 1 Children's Surgery Center (highest level possible) in the state. We have superior neurosurgical outcomes, and we offer both minimally invasive and traditional surgical options for various conditions. Our board-certified pediatric neurosurgeons work closely with patient families to determine the best option for each child.