A pediatric neurologist is one who diagnoses, treats, and manages disorders and diseases that affect the nervous system of children. The nervous system is a series of nerves that connects different parts of the body to control movement. Just like adults, children can also deal with problems that affect their nervous system, which can cause them to act and feel differently.
Neurological disorders can come with many different symptoms, and as a parent or guardian, it’s important to take notice and take action early in order to treat the issue sooner. If you’re wondering if your child needs to see a neurology specialist, ask yourself these questions:
- Does my child complain of headaches or blurred vision?
- Is my child fatigued all the time?
- Is my child running a fever but he or she isn’t sick?
- Has my child seemed off balance or uncoordinated more than usual?
- Has my child complained of numbness or tingling in the arms and legs or does my child have decreased movement in the arms and legs?
- Has my child suffered from a neck or head injury lately?
These symptoms are a sure sign that your child may need to come in for a neurological exam. When your child comes in for an exam, the neurologist will perform a series of tests based on the symptoms you or your child has reported to the doctor. These tests will help determine what may be causing the uncommon symptoms. Infants can also be tested for neurological disorders even though they can’t speak or walk yet. Babies respond to bright lights in their face by blinking, or they are startled by loud, unexpected noises. If you notice your baby isn’t doing those things, then it may be time to bring them in for an exam.
A pediatric care center like Pediatric Partners of Augusta is there to help when you don’t know what to do. It can be a scary time to think that your child may suffer from a neurological disorder, but the sooner you get them in for an exam, the better chances we have of reducing long-term complications. If you are worried about your child, don’t hesitate to come in to see us. Our Evans office is located at 411 Town Park Blvd., our downtown Augusta office is located at 1303 d’Antignac Street, Suite 2600, and our Grovetown office is located at 5135 Wrightsboro Rd. You can call us at 706-854-2500.
