What Does a Child Neurologist Do?
Many specialties exist in medicine, from cardiology to newborn care to laboratory medicine. The field of neurology, however, is an exciting one in that the next five to ten years will be marked by developments in brain research, epilepsy research, and new medications to treat neurologic diseases.

Neurologists are physicians with specialized training in diseases of the brain and nervous system. Adult neurologists diagnose and manage strokes, seizure disorders, meningitis, encephalitis, and muscle and nerve disorders. Some adult neurologists specialize in Alzheimer’s disease, movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, and surgical treatment of epilepsy.

Child neurologists, however, are physicians with training in pediatrics and pediatric neurology. Their specialized training includes expertise in attention disorders, learning difficulties, childhood epilepsy and seizures, congenital brain malformations, childhood stroke, and developmental and behavioral issues of infancy and childhood. A child neurologist will, at times, follow patients well into adulthood for neurologic problems that began in childhood, including possible Attention Deficit Disorders and learning disabilities.

The next five to ten years are an exciting time for child neurologists because certain previously undiagnosed neurological disorders will become more diagnosable with genetic testing. Cerebral palsy research will continue, and new medications to treat behavior, seizures and learning disorders may become available.

All in all, the opportunities for evaluation and treatment of neurological problems of childhood has never been better for the pediatric community and for those who take care of children. These last years have been termed the "Decade of the Brain" and are certainly a rewarding and encouraging time for those of us involved with children who have special needs.