Who is a pediatric neurologist?
A pediatric neurologist, also known as a child neurologist, is a healthcare professional qualified to treat children with nervous system issues. These concerns may originate from the brain, spine, nerves, or muscles, potentially resulting in seizures, persistent headaches, or developmental delays.
What education and training do pediatric neurologists possess?
Pediatric neurologists are medical doctors. Thus, they undergo extensive training which comprises:
- Four years of medical school
- A minimum of one to two years of internship in general pediatrics
- Three years of residency training focused on child neurology. It also includes one year of adult neurology training.
Additionally, some child neurologists may pursue an extra one or two years of specialized training, known as a fellowship, where they gain expertise in a subspecialty within neurology. These may include conditions or areas like epilepsy, neuromuscular disease, or genetics.
Lastly, pediatric neurologists must be board-certified to become eligible to practice. Many obtain certifications from the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
What services can a pediatric neurologist offer?
A pediatric neurologist's specialized training allows them to offer various diagnostic, therapeutic, and management services. These are expertly tailored to address specific brain and nervous system conditions in children and typically include:
- Diagnosing, treating, and managing seizures and epilepsy
- Addressing muscle problems leading to weakness, such as muscular dystrophy or neuropathy
- Managing different degrees of headaches, including migraines and concussions
- Treating behavioral disorders like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), tics and Tourette syndrome, and sleep problems
- Offering support and interventions for autism
- Managing developmental disorders, including cerebral palsy, delayed speech, delayed motor milestones, and coordination issues
- Providing care for intellectual disabilities
- Addressing congenital malformations impacting the formation or development of the brain
- Managing cases of strokes or traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Addressing genetic conditions affecting the nervous system
- Managing autoimmune problems impacting the brain and spinal cord, such as multiple sclerosis.
- Treating infections or inflammation of the brain, including conditions like meningitis or encephalitis
- Providing comprehensive care for brain tumors
In delivering these services, pediatric neurologists contribute significantly to the well-being and development of children, offering specialized and compassionate care for various neurological conditions.
What kinds of examinations do pediatric neurologists recommend?
While child neurologists often base their diagnoses on a thorough understanding of the child's symptoms, medical history, and general physical examinations, there are instances when additional tests may become essential to reach an accurate diagnosis.
Some frequently ordered tests by child neurologists include:
- EEGs (electroencephalogram): This test assesses the electrical activity in the brain, aiding in the detection of seizures and ensuring that a child's brain exhibits the expected electrical patterns for their age.
- CT scans (computed tomography) or MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging): These imaging tests capture detailed pictures of the brain and spine, assisting in identifying conditions such as brain tumors, strokes, infections, multiple sclerosis, specific genetic disorders, and more.
- Lumbar punctures or spinal taps: These procedures entail inserting a small needle into the lower back to acquire a sample of the spinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. This examination helps identify signs of infection or inflammation.
- Blood tests: Child neurologists may recommend various blood tests, ranging from basic labs checking for electrolyte changes or signs of infection to more intricate genetic tests targeting specific disorders.
These diagnostic tools enable neurologists to comprehensively understand a child's neurological health, ensuring accurate and tailored treatment plans.
Reasons to visit a pediatric neurologist near you
While pediatric neurologists take walk-ins, typically, children see one when they receive referrals. A child's pediatrician or family doctor may generally recommend a consultation with a pediatric neurologist if they observe:
- Severe, frequent, or persistent headaches
- Challenges with balance
- Unexplained episodes of loss of consciousness
- Memory loss concerns
- Pain-related issues
- Numbness or tingling sensations in any body part
- Difficulties in movement
- Presence of tremors
- Developmental delays
- Walking difficulties
- Involuntary jerks or tics
- Seizure episodes
- Concerns related to coordination or other motor functions
How to prepare for your first pediatric neurologist appointment?
If your child's pediatrician has asked you to consult a pediatric neurologist, you may be anxious and stressed. Visiting a specialist may seem intimidating, but if you prepare for the appointment well in advance, you can feel at ease and focus on helping your child relax, too. Here's an easy preparation guide to follow and begin your child's healing journey with confidence:
- Write down your child's symptoms in a diary without leaving out any little detail. You can try answering questions such as: When did you first notice the symptoms? Have they evolved since then? How are they affecting your child? Additionally, if you have a photo or video record of any of the symptoms, bring it along. If possible, prepare your child to communicate about their symptoms and concerns to enable them to participate actively in their health journey.
- If your pediatrician or another doctor has previously diagnosed and treated your child's condition, mention it in detail as well. Additionally, if any specialists are a part of your child's healthcare team, carry their names and contact information.
- Carry copies of recent clinical test results, including lab, imaging, and genetic tests.
- Know your child's medical history, including details about their health conditions, allergies, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, surgeries, and injuries.
- Bring all past and current prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, dietary supplements, and herbal medicines. You must also know their dosages, side effects, and the impact of the medications on your child’s condition.
- Make a list of questions or concerns you want to discuss with the pediatric neurologist during the appointment.
How can you find the best pediatric neurologist near you?
Finding the right pediatric neurologist can seem daunting. However, Zocdoc has made this process easy. The platform efficiently connects you with top practitioners accepting your insurance. Enter the specialty, preferred location, consultation date, and insurance details to start your search.
If you do not have insurance coverage for your child, do not panic. Zocdoc permits out-of-network bookings too. All you need to do is select "I'm paying for myself" from the drop-down menu, thus acknowledging that you are ready to bear out-of-pocket medical expenses. You can follow the same steps even when you have a health plan but do not want to use it for any reason. We understand navigating insurance while booking appointments can feel taxing. That's why we have compiled a few insurance-related FAQs on our patient help center page to help with any further queries.
A list of practitioners will appear. You can further simplify your search by adding filters for visit reasons, travel distance, appointment time, practitioner's gender, and languages spoken. Each provider profile offers comprehensive details on their education, training, specialization, hospital affiliations, board certifications, accolades, and accreditations. You can also find verified reviews left by previous patients to aid you in making an informed decision.
Many practitioners offer video consultations for immediate medical attention. To find them, look for a purple icon on profiles. Once you have decided upon a pediatric neurologist near you that you wish to see, you can schedule an appointment by choosing your desired time from business hours, before 10 a.m., after 5 p.m., or on weekends, based on the practitioner's availability. The process is not only swift but also secure and free!
Statistics on neurological disorders in children
Neurological disorders in children, spanning traumatic and non-traumatic conditions, pose a grave public health concern. A study published in the National Library of Medicine in 2013 states that traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) alone account for over 60,000 hospitalizations and nearly 6,000 deaths annually among US children, with a case-fatality rate of approximately 3.8% and over $1 billion in inpatient charges. Strokes, though less frequent, exhibit a higher mortality rate, causing over 5,000 hospitalizations among children and young adults, with mortality rates of around 14.6% for ischemic strokes and about 19.5% for intracerebral hemorrhages.
Upon examining nearly 960,020 hospitalizations across 11 states, the National Library of Medicine report also suggests that roughly 10.7% of these cases raised concerns due to neurological diagnoses, pointing to an overall incidence of about 3.4 per 1,000 children per year. As per the data, infants face the highest incidence at around 8.6 per 1,000, while 10 to 14-year-olds have the lowest rates, at approximately 2.4 per 1,000.
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2015, active epilepsy affected around 1.2% of the population in the nation, encompassing nearly 3.4 million individuals, with 0.6% of children aged up to 17 affected.
Pediatric neurology practices shoulder a significant burden in the community, with roughly 40% to 50% of patients presenting with epilepsy, 20% with learning difficulties, 20% with headaches, and the remainder dealing with rare or unusual conditions, illustrating the multifaceted challenges faced by these healthcare professionals in safeguarding the well-being of children with neurological disorders.
Sources
WebMD
Healthychildren.org
National Center for Biotechnology Information
NEWS MEDICAL LIFE SCIENCES
Child Neurology Foundation
