Choosing a Pediatric Neurologist

[cogero]

In December we saw our peditrician for routine exams for both our kids and to also discuss all the early intervention for our DS who was diagnosed with PDD-NOS by EI.

Our Ped wants us to hook up with a Pediatric Neurologist since we won't have a real firm diagnosis for a few years our son just turned 2 on 11/30 and some of the oddities are getting better. Also our ped feels that we should see a neurologist because of our son being in the NICU at birth and having surgery to make sure there isn't something else going on.

What questions should I be asking?

A friend of ours who is a dr wants us to see a developmental pediatrician. this is a very confusing journey we are on.

Our son gets OT, PT, ST and ABA through EI and is doing really well with them, he has really calmed down since starting at the end of October

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[persimmondeb]

Ask your Dr. for a referral for the Pediatric Neurologist, and start from there. If he/she is not a good fit and you and he/she feel that regular visits are warranted, you're fortunate that you're in the NY area, so you should have good access to specialists. I always google the doctor, just to get a little bit of a sense of them.

It can be tricky to get an appointment with one, at least in my area, since they tend to be booked, but I've been more comfortable with the neurologist taking a periodic look at DS, rather than relying on a psychiatrist or GP to write his prescriptions and follow up. Ours just retired rather suddenly, and we're debating whether we need to go shopping for another, since DS is now 14.

If it were me, I might be happy with a developmental pediatrician on an ongoing basis, but since it sounds like your pediatrician kind of wants to rule out the possibility that anything else is going on, I would follow the recommendation to visit the pediatric neurologist now.

 

[bookwormde]

Take a little extra time to ask around and find a good neurologist (there are lots of marginally competent ones) who has a lot of experience with Autism genetics with a large part of his/her practice with aspergers, PPD-nos.

IF you can find the same quality of developmental pediatrician that would be great also.

One of the best thing you can do is to get a copy of Tony Attwood’s “The complete guide to Aspergers” c/2007 available on Amazon for about $17 and read through it. This will allow you to be educated enough to ask the “correct” questions.

bookwormde

 

[jmartinez1895]

Don't ever be afarid to ask for a second opinion when ever any doctor gives you a diagnosis. Our sons nero. found a spot in his brain and said it was nothing to worry about ( such as tumor or stuff like that) but I asked him if he could refer us to somone for a second opinon. He was happy to and that doctor agreed that it was nothing but a patch of scar tissue form fetal development. If any doctor you have gets upset by you asking for a second opinion then you may need to find a new doctor. I know this is not what you asked, but I just wanted to remind you of this because I know you are getting information from all of your doctors left and right.

 

[cogero]

Thanks a lot. My ped did give us 2 names of doctors he is in very comfortable with and one is even in my health plan so I think I am going to start there.

I am also going to look in Atwoods book for the right questions to ask. Also think I need to schedule this appointment around DHs work schedule so he can come with me.