Pediatric Neurology, Explained for Parents, From Newborn to Age 18
Welcome to our pediatric neurology articles, clear, plain-English explanations of the signs parents notice most, from staring spells and tics to headaches, always written with your child's age in mind. Each article will help you understand what might be happening, how worried you should be, what to do next, and when it's time for an in-person evaluation with Dr. Shawn Sedgh, MD, whose residency training in both pediatrics and neurology covers children from birth through age 18.
When a sign is worth a neurologist's visit
Most parents land here after seeing something they can't explain: a staring spell in a 4-year-old, headaches that keep a 10-year-old home from school, a baby who isn't meeting milestones. Search results tend to swing between 'totally normal' and 'rare and serious,' which helps no one. The truth is usually in between, and it depends heavily on your child's age, the same sign at age 2 can mean something very different at age 12.
A reasonable rule of thumb: start with your pediatrician for anything new and mild, but seek a neurological evaluation when a symptom repeats, worsens, interrupts school or sleep, or involves any loss of skills your child already had. You are not overreacting by asking. Parents are often the first to notice patterns that only show up at home.
Dr. Shawn Sedgh, MD completed three years of residency in pediatrics and three years in neurology, so he evaluates children as children, not as small adults. If you're unsure whether your child's sign crosses the line, you can request an in-person evaluation and describe exactly what you've seen.
What I actually do for pediatric neurology.
Age first
A sign at 18 months and the same sign at 12 years are different questions. The explanation names the age band.
The story from home
What you and the school have noticed is the main evidence. Office visits rarely catch a brief spell.
An exam that fits a child
The neurological exam is adjusted for infants, toddlers, and school-age children. It is not an adult exam made smaller.
A reason for any test
An EEG or a scan is suggested when the result would change the plan, not as a routine next step.
How a booking with me actually goes.
You tell the story
Age, onset, how often, and what else changed: sleep, school, or a skill your child already had.
The exam
An in-person neurological exam matched to your child's age, explained as it happens.
A plain plan
What is reassuring, what to watch, and whether any test is actually useful. No dose list on this page.
Things people ask before they book.
What happens in the visit?
A visit starts with your story: what you saw, when it started, and your child's age at the time. Dr. Sedgh then does an age-appropriate neurological exam and explains, in plain English, what the findings do and don't tell us. Every explanation on this site states the age band, because a sign at age 2 means something different at age 12.
What will it cost?
Costs depend on your insurance and on what the evaluation involves, and we won't publish numbers we can't stand behind. When you request a visit, the practice can discuss fees and coverage directly with you before anything is scheduled.
How long does the first visit take?
A first evaluation typically involves a detailed history and exam in a single visit, though some questions take more than one appointment to answer fully. If follow-up or testing is needed, Dr. Sedgh will explain why and what it adds, rather than ordering it by default.
Should I start with the pediatrician?
Yes for a new, mild sign. Ask for a neurology visit when a sign repeats, worsens, breaks sleep or school, or your child loses a skill they already had. You are not overreacting by asking.
Do I need the right medical term first?
No. Describe what you saw. A staring spell, a new movement, headaches that keep a child home, or a milestone that stalled is enough to start.