Neuroscience Institute

As a parent, you are the ultimate protector of your child, and you want the best possible medical care when your child has been diagnosed with a neurological condition. We know that managing your child’s condition can be overwhelming and you might not know where to start.

The CHOC Neuroscience Institute is a dedicated place for kids. Our team of board-certified specialists and neuroscience-trained staff provide a full spectrum of care for disorders of the brain, spine, muscles and central and peripheral nervous systems. We provide coordinated care for a seamless experience, innovative programs and specialized treatments, and pediatric expertise, equipment and facilities.

Brain conditions in children can be complex and require a team of caregivers, each bringing special expertise. Your child’s care team may include board-certified neurologists and neurosurgeons, nurses and nurse practitioners, social workers, neuropsychologists, rehabilitation therapists, dietitians, psychiatrists, pharmacists, speech and occupational therapists, and child life specialists. 

The CHOC Difference

• We offer the only pediatric neuroscience inpatient unit in the region, designed with private, spacious rooms, advanced continuous monitoring.
• Our innovative playroom is equipped with AirEEG technology and allows our patients to play while staying connected wirelessly to the EEG monitoring system. Specialized play programming is also provided to support neurodiverse patients.
• We have the only Level 4 epilepsy center in Orange County, certified by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC).
• Our operating rooms feature top navigation systems including FIREFLY and StealthStation S8 with 3D visualization, allowing surgeons to perform safer, more precise procedures.
• Minimally invasive surgery tools including MRI-guided laser ablation and ROSA, a 3D-mapping robotic system that aids surgeons in locating the exact area to operate.
• Video EEG monitoring is wired throughout our hospital, and at-home units allow children to play and move about normally while undergoing detailed monitoring of the brain
• ReFlow shunt technology reverses life-threatening shunt occlusion in patients with hydrocephalus.
• We offer vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), a “pacemaker for the brain” for reducing seizures, and deep brain stimulation (DBS) for intractable partial seizures and dystonia.