develop vs neurodevelop

[Guest guest]

perhaps this has been asked before but that was before my time on

this site. Your someone please help we understand the difference

between a neurodevelopmental pediatrician and a developmental

pediatrician. Why would you choose one or the other??? Is a

neurodevelopmental pediatrician " more " qualified than a pediatric

neurologist or would you still see a ped. neuro. as well???

Since it takes so long to get an appointment with either of these

specialists I wanted to make one now but even my pediatrician is not

sure which if either I need to see. I would most likely go out to

Childrens in Philly as they do participate with my insurance and have

all services under one roof. I do however really like the nice easy

to understand level headed posts by Dr. Laveman so if anyone out

there has used him please e-mail me privately, as I would be willing

to go out of network for care.

Thanks for any insight you guys can give.

(NJ) mom to (poss. apraxia --2 on saturday) and Kenny

typical 12

[Guest guest]

,

I am sure you will get some more detailed responses than mine ... we

saw a Pediatric Neurologist at Children's Spec. Hosp. in

Mountainside, then a Developmental Pediatrician (Marilyn Agin) in NYC.

When I went to get an appointment at Children's Spec. I didn't know

there were different " areas " of pediatric neurology. I was asked a

series of questions and directed to a doctor specializing in gross

motor development (our primary concern at the time). Her report was

valid and an accurate assessment of my son at the time. However, it

was not the full picture. She referred me for a speech evaluation,

but did not raise any red-flags about his oral motor difficiencies,

mild sensory issues and fine motor issues because she wasn't looking

at/for this.

We had a <great> full evaluation for EI services at Summit Speech

School which was a real eye opener. They brought up many things

which were a surprise to us -- because we had seen a neurologist and

thought we understood 's situation.

The Developmental Pediatrician took more of a " whole child "

approach. She watched him play, watched him eat, watched him move.

She looked for clues in the way he solved problems and how he reacted

to questions. She saw not only what was hard for him, but his

strengths and how he accommodated for his disabilities. She made

very specific recommendations about the type and frequency of

therapies. Her evaluation helped us work out services with the

school district and understand the road we were traveling.

I am certainly not in your shoes, but we paid out of network for both

evaluations. I am not discounting the Neurologist's work, we were

asking the wrong questions. If I had to do it again, I would start

with the Developmental Pediatrician and go to the Neurologist if

there were more detailed or specific " stuff " which would warrent a

very narrow focus.

Good luck!

Margaret...'s Mom