Pediatric Neurology

Overview

Stony Brook Children's brings an exceptional breadth and depth of expertise to the care of children with neurological disorders. As Suffolk County's only Child Neurology program based in an academic medical institution, our team works on the front lines of medicine. We take on the region's most clinically complex cases; conduct vital research studies; and, as faculty of the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, teach tomorrow's neurologists.

Within Child Neurology, we have multiple specialty centers that provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary evaluation, treatment and long-term management of multiple sclerosis and epilepsy. Our Lourie Center for Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis is a designated Center of Excellence by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. 

Contact Us

Lourie Center for Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis
181 N. Belle Meade Rd, Suite 6
East Setauket, NY 11733 
(631) 444-2599
Fax: (631) 392-7213

Neurology Associates of Stony Brook
4 Smith Haven Mall, Ste 105
Lake Grove, NY 11755
(631) 444-2599
Fax: 631-392-7213

Neurology Associates of Stony Brook
181 N. Belle Meade Road, Suite 6
East Setauket, NY 11733
(631) 444-2599
Fax: 631-392-7213

Stony Brook Children's Services at Hampton Bays
225 W. Montauk Highway
Hampton Bays, NY 11946
(631) 444-2599
Fax: (631) 392-7213

Stony Brook Advanced Pediatric Care (Commack)
500 Commack Rd, Suite 104
Commack, NY  11725
(631) 444-2599
Fax: (631) 392-7213

Stony Brook Advanced Pediatric Care (Smithtown)
260 Middle Country Rd, Suite 107
Smithtown, NY  11787
(631) 444-2599
Fax: (631) 392-7213

Our Team

Stony Brook Children's Child Neurology Division consists of a core team of pediatric neurologists. Working collaboratively with the hospital's full complement of pediatric and neurology subspecialists — including clinical neurophysiologists, epileptologists, neuroradiologists, neurosurgeons and neuro-oncologists — they provide diagnosis and management for a comprehensive range of disorders of the brain, spinal cord, muscles and nerves.  

Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Specialists

Olga Syritsyna, MD, MD, Neurologist, Program Director
Robert Peyster, MD, Radiologist
Patrick Sibony MD, Neuro Ophthalmologist
Dorothy Reynolds, MD, Pediatric Ophthalmologist
Deborah Weisbrot, MD, Psychiatrist
Thomas Preston, PhD, Neuropsychologist
Maria Milazzo, RN, MS, PNP-C, Nurse Practitioner
 

The Lourie Center for Pediatric MS

Established in 2002, The Lourie Center for Pediatric MS at Stony Brook Children's was the first multidisciplinary center dedicated to addressing the specific needs of pediatric multiple sclerosis patients in the United States. Today, it is one of six in the nation designated as a Center of Excellence by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, which means it meets rigorous standards and offers an unparalleled depth and breadth of resources, including an international pediatric research program. Long Islanders find themselves fortunate to have world-class care like this in their own community. 

The Lourie Center for Pediatric MS was established to advance the recognition, evaluation and treatment of pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) through the creation of a multidisciplinary program dedicated to clinical care and scientific research of children and adolescents with MS. The Center includes a multidisciplinary team of experts in MS, pediatric neurology, nursing, psychiatry and neuropsychology. Funded in part by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Center has been designated as a Center of Excellence by the Society.
 

Patient Resources

Below are several links to more information:

• What You Need to Know About Epilepsy and Seizures
• Epilepsy Foundation of Long Island

National Websites

• National Multiple Sclerosis Society
• Lourie Center for Pediatric MS 
• Science News: Vitamin D Study
• American Epilepsy Foundation
   

Services

Part of the medical center's Program of Distinction in Neurosciences, our Child Neurology Division evaluates and treats patients ranging from newborns to young adults. We have the expertise, experience and technology to address the full gamut of neurological problems, including: 

Autism
Brain tumors
Cerebral palsy
Developmental disorders 
Epilepsy and seizure disorders 
Genetic disorders
Guillain Barré syndrome 
Hydrocephalus 
Infectious diseases
Mental retardation
Metabolic disorders
Migraine headaches
Motor development
Multiple sclerosis
Muscular dystrophy
Tic disorders
Vascular abnormalities
 

Stony Brook Comprehensive Epilepsy Center

Through the Stony Brook Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, we offer a uniquely focused approach to the diagnosis and treatment of children with seizure disorders. Our capabilities include:

• A five-bed dedicated video-EEG epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) with 24/7 observation staff 
• Portable video-EEG epilepsy monitoring capability that can be set up anywhere in the hospital where there is a patient experiencing possible seizures
• A multidisciplinary team, including renowned epileptologists, pediatric neurologists, neurosurgeons and neuropsychologist
• Multiple treatment options, including advanced surgical techniques
• Access to research, including clinical trials of new drugs and support and education services for patients and families
   

Research and Education

At Stony Brook Medicine, research and education are key components of our mission. Our child neurology physicians are members of the faculty of the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University and teach medical students, residents and fellows on an ongoing basis. Multiple studies of anti-epileptic drugs and vagal nerve stimulation have been conducted over the years, and the staff presents and publishes their work extensively. Dr. Jill Miller-Horn is a peer reviewer for Clinical Pediatrics. Dr. Louis Manganas is principal investigator on several multiple sclerosis studies.
 

Advances and Recognitions 

From 2005 through 2012, Founding director of Child Neurology, Mary Andriola, MD (retired 2019), was named one of New York's Best Doctors by Castle Connelly, publishers of New York magazine. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, The Child Neurology Society, The American Epilepsy Society and the American Society of Clinical Neurophysiology. 
 

Definitions

ADD/ADHD - Attention deficit disorder (ADD)/ attention deficit with hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be characterized by difficulty with the following: paying attention, concentrating, following directions, learning, keeping still, and completing tasks. Children with these disorders may be inclined to make impulsive decisions without stopping to think about the consequences of their choices. The disorder has three subtypes: inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, and combined.
Clinical neurophysiology - This medical specialty studies the central and peripheral nervous systems through the recording of bioelectrical activity.
Developmental disorders - These disorders interfere with a child's development or acquisition of basic skills. There are many categories of developmental disorders. Specific developmental disorders affect a narrow area of development, such as a learning disability. Pervasive development disorders, such as autism, may affect a child's development overall. An example is the autism spectrum disorders, which affect a child's acquisition of communication and social skills, sensitivity to sensory stimulation, and other areas. Children with developmental disorders vary widely in their abilities, intelligence, and needs.
EEG - Electroencephalography (EEG) measures the activity of neurons in the brain using electrodes attached to the head. It is useful in diagnosing epilepsy, coma, encephalopathy and other brain disorders.
Electrodiagnosis - Recording electrical activity of the brain and nerves, such as with EEG, to diagnose illness and injuries.
Epilepsy - A neurological disorder characterized by seizures.
Guillain Barré syndrome - An acute autoimmune disease of the peripheral nervous system. There are six types of GBS each with unique symptoms involving muscle weakness, paralysis and other symptoms.
Hydrocephalus - A condition in which cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the ventricles, or cavities, of the brain. The head may swell and intracranial pressure may build, resulting in headache, nausea, sleepiness, coma, brain damage, or seizures.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) - Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision.
Niedermeyer's Electroencephalography 6/e - The EEG in congenital malformations of cortical development, neurocutaneous disorders, cerebral palsy, autism/mental retardation, and ADHD
Neuro-oncology - This medical subspecialty deals with cancers of the nervous system and spine.
Neuroradiology - This medical field focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of brain, spinal cord, vascular, and head and neck lesions or tumors using x-rays, magnetic fields, radio waves, and ultrasound