Epilepsy Genetics Program

Our Clinical Services

The Boston Children's Hospital Epilepsy Genetics Program sees a wide range of patients, including:

• children and families with suspected genetic epilepsy syndromes
• children and families with known epilepsy genetic syndromes
• children with certain genetic variants that call for parental testing and/or genetic counseling
• children with certain genetic variants that require further evaluation

Our Director, Annapurna Poduri, MD, MPH, performs pediatric epilepsy genetic consultations, while our Clinical Program Manager, Beth Sheidley, MS, CGC, takes detailed, syndrome-specific family histories and provides genetic counseling.

Consultations last from 1-2 hours and will include the following:

• Review of your child’s previous medical records

• Review of your child’s medical and treatment history

• Review of your child’s family history

• Discussion of potential treatments for epilepsy

• Genetic counseling, including discussion of inheritance of epilepsy, implications for other family members, and the potential benefits and limitations of genetic testing

• Discussion of emotional aspects of caring for a child with special needs and/or sources of information and support

• Discussion of potential enrollment into research studies if applicable