Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — Family Neurology is currently accepting new patients of all ages for both adult and pediatric neurology, including epilepsy, seizures, ADHD, autism, migraines, Parkinson's, dementia, and more.

Call 713-589-7020 or submit an appointment request online.

It depends on your insurance plan. Many plans allow you to see a specialist directly without a referral. Some HMO plans require a referral from your primary care doctor.

Call our office at 713-589-7020 and we will verify your insurance before your appointment and let you know exactly what is needed.

Please bring the following to your first visit:

• Photo ID and insurance card
• List of all current medications with dosages
• Any prior medical records relevant to your visit (EEG reports, MRI or CT scans, prior neurology notes)
• If your child has had a seizure — a video of the episode if available
• Completed intake forms (available on our patient portal)

Yes. We offer telemedicine appointments for follow-up visits and certain types of consultations. Call our office at 713-589-7020 to find out if your visit qualifies for telehealth.

A new patient appointment typically takes 45–60 minutes. This includes your medical history review, neurological examination, discussion of your concerns, and a plan for next steps. Bring extra time for paperwork if you haven't completed it online.

Family Neurology is located at 3301 Plainview St, Suite 8, Pasadena, Texas 77504. We serve patients from Pasadena, Houston, Pearland, Deer Park, League City, Webster, La Porte, and the surrounding SE Houston area.

We accept most major commercial insurance plans, including:

Blue Cross Blue Shield · Aetna · UnitedHealthcare · Cigna · Humana · Medicare · Medicaid / CHIP · Tricare · Ambetter

Call our office at 713-589-7020 to verify your specific plan before scheduling.

Yes. We accept Medicaid and CHIP for eligible patients. Call our office to verify your child's specific plan is accepted.

Yes. We accept Medicare for adult neurology patients. Please call our office to confirm your specific Medicare plan details.

Billing statements and payment options are available through our patient portal (Athenahealth). You can also call our office for billing questions.

An epileptologist is a neurologist who has completed an additional fellowship specifically in epilepsy. This advanced training gives them expertise in EEG interpretation, seizure classification, complex epilepsy syndromes, and management of drug-resistant epilepsy — beyond what a general neurologist provides.

Dr. Vanessa Mbanga is a fellowship-trained epileptologist who completed her training at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital. Learn more about Dr. Mbanga → · Our epilepsy specialist page →

A seizure is a single event of abnormal electrical activity in the brain — it can happen to anyone under certain circumstances (high fever, low blood sugar, etc.). Childhood seizures are especially important to evaluate promptly.

Epilepsy is a neurological condition diagnosed when a person has two or more unprovoked seizures, or one seizure with a high risk of recurrence based on test findings.

If your child is still having a seizure lasting more than 5 minutes, or has not returned to normal within 30 minutes, call 911 immediately.

If the seizure has stopped and your child has recovered, call our office at 713-589-7020. We will triage your situation and get you seen promptly. First seizures always warrant evaluation.

We treat both. Dr. Mbanga sees epilepsy and seizure patients of all ages — from newborns to adults. This is a key advantage of Family Neurology: your child never needs to find a new epilepsy specialist when they transition into adulthood.

About 70% of people with epilepsy can become seizure-free with the right medication. Some children outgrow certain childhood epilepsy syndromes. For those with drug-resistant epilepsy, advanced options including dietary therapies (ketogenic diet) and surgical evaluation may offer additional control. Our goal is always the best possible quality of life.

An EEG (electroencephalogram) records your brain's electrical activity using small sensors placed on the scalp. It is painless, safe for all ages, and commonly ordered to evaluate seizures, staring spells, or other neurological symptoms.

Your doctor ordered one to look for patterns in brain activity that might explain your child's symptoms. Learn more about EEG testing →

No. An EEG is completely painless. Small metal sensors are placed on the scalp using a water-soluble gel. There are no needles and no electricity going into the body. Most children tolerate it well.

Wash hair the night before or morning of the test — no conditioner, oils, or sprays. Take all medications as normal unless instructed otherwise. Eat a regular meal. If instructed, reduce sleep the night before. Bring a comfort item for young children.

See the full EEG preparation guide →

A routine EEG appointment is typically 60–90 minutes from arrival to completion. The actual recording takes 20–40 minutes; the rest is setup and cleanup. Your child can go to school or resume normal activities immediately afterward.