Child Psy or neuroligst?

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-16-2005
Child Psy or neuroligst?
3
Wed, 09-28-2005 - 12:16pm

can you all halp me understand the difference here? My DD is scheduled to have an eval by a child psycholigst on friday. I think I've mentioned that both my in laws are child psy - but I feel they are too close to the situation to tell me anything ( much to their digress - lol) .

A collegue of thiers ( who normally has a few month waiting list) has agreed to test my DD ( eval) at my in laws house this friday afternoon. What can I expect - and what is he going to be able to tell me more importantly? he is dropping off some paperwork for DH and I to fill out - called an Mchat or something like that?

WHat can a neuroligist tell me that a child psy can't? AND - when do you take them to a neuroligst? I mean, does someone have to recommend it?
Also - what can a developmental peditrican do or tell me?

thanks - this is all like trying to read a foreign language to me : )

TIA!!!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Wed, 09-28-2005 - 1:46pm

OK. Voice of a bad experience speaking here, but a neurologist would be right down the end of my list. Here are my personal preferences:

Neuropsychologist
child psychologist or developmental ped
neurologist.

You need someone who will look at all aspects of the child: Talk to you about your observations and concerns, take a detailed history; including milestones and family influences etc, nd who will also examine, interact with and test the child (puzzles,stack blocks, ask the child questions, ask child to draw a picture or whatever)

In my experience a neurologist just looks at gross brain function to rule out or treat abnoramlities (seizures, clots etc). If the child can hop on one foot, respoonds OK to the standard tests and has a normal EEG, a neurologist can't (won't) do much else of use. Mine didn't take a detailed history (I gave him all the paperwork including past evaluations. He didn't read it). He didn't really interact with Peter. No puzzles, blockes, or interaction other than directions for the physical exam. Yes it was good to have a normal EEG, but that was the only value he provided. He dried to slap us with a PPD DX after a normal EEG and a 10 minute follow-up visit and I took my kids and ran.

A psychologist does the history. questions/ puzzles thing, but doesn't take the brain physiology into account too much. (no hopping on one foot)

A neuropsych. looks at both. Think a developmental ped may look at both too.

We were referred to the neurologist because my daycare provider thought she saw Peter have a seizure.

Siobhan has never seen a neurologist.

HTH and isn't too anti-neurologist LOL

-Paula
Who has a perfectly lovely lady neurologist herself. (for migraines)

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
Avatar for cathby
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-16-2003
Wed, 09-28-2005 - 2:25pm

My ped. told me that a neuro wouldn't be too useful. So we've skipped it. And I'm kinda' glad that we did.

Because the autistic spectrum disorders are dx clinically -- meaning there is no blood test or anything, it's all based on observations and reports of behaviors -- often a psychologist or a developmental pediatrician might have the most experience. We go to a dev. ped. with a sub-specialty in ASDs. Because the ASDs are a neurological disorder but with behavioral components, the dev. ped. can "fill in the gap" so to speak since he or she is a medical professional. (Mine does a ltd. physical exam of my DS, measuring his head, etc.)

I believe the MCHAT is an autistic behaviors "quiz" for the parents, about self-help skills at home and other things that you observe about your DD. There's another test, the CARS (Childhood Autism Rating Scale).

HTH. I hope Friday goes well for all of you,

Cathy

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 09-28-2005 - 4:55pm

Hmmm, what is most important to me is someone who understands the autism spectrum. I have had good and bad experiences with both psychologists and neurologists.

That being said, a psychologist is going to do more testing in the way of where the child is cognitively. Their learning profile, etc. A neurologist worth thier salt is going to want either psychological or neuropsych testing first before making a final diagnosis unless the autism is obvious. Then they should still want that testing to figure out a childs learning profile anyway.

A neurologist is going to do more with reflexes, motor skills, and medical type testing. This may be important too if the child has any neurological signs such as a question of seizures, tremors, etc.

In MA I saw a fabulous neurologist who belonged to a clinic specializing in ASD's. I know of one in the next county to here as well. She was great and able to offer advice in all areas of their needs because she specialized in autism. She insisted on a full neuropsyche eval (which isn't that different from psych) before diagnosing Cait.

Here our neuro supposidly specializes, but it is more that she has lots of autistic spectrum kids and knows the spectrum but I wouldn't say it is her specialty. She is ok, but I prefer our psychologist usually.

Renee

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