Neonatal Neurology Program

Neonatal neurology is the diagnosis, care and treatment of neurological conditions in newborns. There are several reasons a newborn baby may have a neurological condition. Neurological issues can be present at birth (congenital) or can be due to prematurity or difficult delivery. 

We understand that the possibility of a neurological condition discovered in your newborn can bring a great deal of fear, anxiety and uncertainty. That is why we offer a special multidisciplinary program to address your child’s unique needs. We vow to help guide you every step of the way — from diagnosis and treatment to long-term follow-up care.

Neonatal neurological conditions we evaluate and treat include:

• Extreme prematurity
• Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
• Neonatal seizures
• Intracranial hemorrhage
• Stroke
• Neural tube defects
• Brain malformations or cerebrovascular malformations
• Hypotonia
• Arthrogryposis
• Congenital neuromuscular diseases
• Infections of the nervous system
• Hydrocephalus

Our neurology team works closely with neonatologists, neonatal nurses, pediatric neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, pediatric medical subspecialists (e.g., infectious diseases, genetics) and other specialty services, including speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, case management and social work to provide the best care for your child.

How do we evaluate newborns?

We evaluate and treat high-risk infants using innovative procedures and technology such as:

• Total body cooling (therapeutic hypothermia)
• Brain imaging for newborn infants
• Amplitude-integrated EEG
• Intensive video EEG monitoring

After our neurology team examines your baby, we will share the results and any subsequent diagnosis and treatment plan with you. We will also discuss any future developmental risks to your baby and answer questions you may have about his or her neurological health.

We will be by your side every moment that your baby is in the NICU and well after you have taken your baby home. We are extremely committed to long-term neurological care and growth.

For more information about neurocritical care, please visit the Newborn Brain Society, which aims to advance newborn brain care through international multidisciplinary collaboration, education and innovation among clinicians, scientists and parents.