Neurogenetics

At Dell Children's in Austin, Texas, pediatric neurologists care for children with neurogenetic disorders, including tuberous sclerosis and neurofibromatosis.

Young boy with dad looking at tablet

Pediatric neurogenetics at Dell Children's

Dell Children’s Medical Center at Ascension Seton delivers the most advanced pediatric care in Central Texas — and that includes care for neurogenetic conditions like autism, chromosomal disorders, muscular dystrophies, mitochondrial disorders and more. With a multidisciplinary team and state-of-the-art technology, our team of providers deliver a wide range of services from evaluation, genetic testing, and counseling to disease management, surgical treatment, rehabilitation, and more. Our specialists are ready to deliver the care your child needs, with a comprehensive, quality-of-life-focused approach. Only in Austin. Only at Dell Children’s.

Our approach to care

Neurogenetic disorders are a group of conditions that can affect the function and development of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles because of a change in the child’s DNA. These changes may be inherited from a parent, or they may be “de novo,” meaning they just affect the child. Symptoms may include seizures, developmental delays, abnormal muscle tone, muscle weakness, and abnormal movements. Many of these conditions are rare and poorly understood.

Our pediatric neurogenetics team works with many specialists to diagnose and manage the care of children with complex neurogenetic disorders. We also conduct state-of-the-art research to ensure your child receives the most up-to-date treatment tailored to their unique needs.

By taking a long-term, evidence-based, comprehensive approach, we will help your child reach their fullest potential at home, at school, and in the community.

Multidisciplinary care for your child

At the Dell Children’s Neurogenetics Center, your child will be cared for by a dedicated multidisciplinary team. This allows your child to benefit from the expertise of specialists across a variety of disciplines. Our board-certified and fellowship-trained neurologists have extensive experience treating genetic conditions of the muscles, nerves, and brain in children of all ages. They work alongside a team of pediatric neuroscience experts, including epileptologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, neuro-ophthalmologists, physician assistants, physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists, physical and occupational therapists, physiatrists, hospitalists, anesthesiologists, nurses and nurse practitioners, social workers, psychologists, child life specialists, and dietitians, providing unparalleled care for patients and their families every step of the way.

Depending on your child’s situation, we will coordinate with other specialists such as dermatologists, cardiologists, oncologists, endocrinologists, plastic surgeons, and geneticists for evaluation and targeted treatment. As your child transitions into adulthood, we’ll help coordinate their care so they can continue to thrive. We also collaborate closely with referring physicians, including community pediatricians and other partners in the community, to schedule and coordinate any additional care services your child may need.

  • Conditions we diagnose and treat
    • Ataxia
    • Autism
    • Brain malformations
    • Chromosomal disorders
    • Developmental delays
    • Eye movement disorders
    • Fragile X syndrome
    • Genetic epilepsies
    • Leukodystrophies
    • Mitochondrial disorders
    • Movement disorders
    • Muscular dystrophies
    • Myopathies Neurocutaneous disorders, including Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF-1), Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF-2), Schwannomatosis, Tuberous Sclerosis, and Sturge-Weber Syndrome
    • Neurometabolic disorders
    • Neuropathies
    • Rett syndrome
  • Services we provide
    • Access to clinical trials
    • Evaluation for medical equipment, such as wheelchairs
    • Genetic counseling
    • Genetic testing
    • Lumbar puncture
    • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
    • Magnetoencephalogram (MEG)
    • Muscle and skin biopsies
    • Muscle ultrasound
    • Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test
    • Neuropsychological testing
    • Positive emission tomography (PET)
    • Referrals for physical therapy
    • Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
    • Surgery
    • Targeted drug therapy
    • Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
    • Video electroencephalogram (EEG)
  • Multispecialty clinics
    • Tuberous sclerosis clinic
    • Neurofibromatosis clinic

Pediatric neurosciences backed by research

UT Health Austin Pediatric Neurosciences at Dell Children’s is a clinical partnership between Dell Children’s Medical Center and UT Health Austin, the clinical practice of the Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin.

Advanced brain and spine care

Whether your child has epilepsy, ongoing headache pain, hydrocephalus, scoliosis or another neurology need, our specialists are here for them.

Advanced care for complex conditions

The Dell Children's Neurogenetics Center offers advanced care that focuses on complex populations, including tuberous sclerosis and neurofibromatosis clinics.

Multidisciplinary care

Your child will benefit from the expertise of many specialists at Dell Children's.

Neurogenetics