Adolescent Epilepsy

UCLA Health approach to epilepsy in teens

Specialists in the Adolescent Epilepsy Center provide expert, whole-person care for teens with epilepsy. We understand that seizures are just one piece of the puzzle in treating epilepsy. Our specialists seek to understand all factors that affect your child’s well-being, which helps determine the best course of treatment.

Highlights of our program include:

Holistic approach: Our team uses a holistic care model, meaning that we look at all the biological, psychological and social factors that affect your teen’s wellness. Issues such as depression, anxiety, learning disabilities, medication side effects and social challenges are all just as important to your child’s quality of life as seizure control.

Extensive resources: A social worker and occupational therapist focus on supporting your child and family outside of the medical setting. For example, we can help advocate for individualized education plans (IEPs), assist with college or job applications and offer tools to help teens feel more empowered during day-to-day activities.

Detailed diagnostic workups: We use a full range of diagnostic techniques to accurately identify a seizure’s cause and location. For example, MRI techniques created at UCLA Health allow us to detect small brain lesions that can be difficult to locate with other tools. In-depth neuropsychology evaluations help us assess risks and provide treatment recommendations.

Our services

Our specialists help improve quality of life, in addition to offering treatments to control seizures in teens. We want teens to feel empowered to be their best. Our role is to help our patients live productive and meaningful lives while managing seizures. Additional services offered through the Adolescent Epilepsy Center include:

Nutrition counseling

We offer individualized nutrition counseling to promote overall health and potentially help manage seizures. Registered dietitians work with teens to create a personalized nutrition plan based on food preferences, goals and research-based nutrition strategies that can help manage seizures. During follow-up sessions, we discuss what may or may not be working and adjust eating plans accordingly.

Occupational therapy

Our occupational therapists (OTs) help teenagers perform all the activities they need and want to do on a daily basis. This may include support and guidance with:

Completing schoolwork or chores
Finding and participating in hobbies
Managing medications and treatment
Talking with friends about an epilepsy diagnosis
Transitioning to a job or college

Psychosocial support

Teens and families may require additional support outside of our clinic. We can connect your family with other services, including:

Advocacy groups
Community outreach education programs
Home health aides
Insurance benefits
Referrals to psychologists and other mental health providers
Respite centers
Special education programs
Support groups
Vocational rehabilitation centers

Transitional program

Our pediatric epilepsy providers work closely with adult epilepsy specialists to ensure that teens continue receiving the care they need as they grow into adults. We also partner with community physicians to find the best fit for each patient as they start to see adult specialists. Our transitional services help ensure that teens don’t experience any gaps in care as they mature out of our pediatric programs.

Epilepsy diagnosis and treatment

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes repeat episodes of atypical nerve activity in the brain. These episodes are known as seizures and can cause a wide range of symptoms, from irregular behaviors to sensory disturbances, convulsions or loss of consciousness.

We diagnose and treat all types of epilepsy and seizures in adolescents. Our pediatric epilepsy team uses state-of-the-art tools to evaluate seizures and create customized treatment plans. Learn more about pediatric epilepsy types, tests and treatments.

Meet our team

We specialize in supporting teens and young adults with epilepsy. Our team offers an extensive range of resources with an emphasis on maintaining a high quality of life. Occupational therapists, registered dietitians and social workers expertly assess and guide teens, helping to improve multiple factors that affect their overall well-being.