When does my child need a neurologist?
Plain-language guidance on the signs that warrant a specialist visit, from birth through age 18, written for parents.
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 to write down before you call
The visit is built from what you saw at home, not from a form. Note your child's age, when the sign started, how often it happens, and whether sleep, school, or skills already learned have changed.
- What it looked like, in ordinary words
- How long it lasted, if you were able to time it
- Whether it came with fever, illness, or a hit to the head
- What your pediatrician has already said
A short phone video is often more useful than a perfect description. You do not need the medical name for it.
What the visit is built from
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.
What to expect.
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.
What this visit is, and what it is not
Dr. Shawn Sedgh, MD trained in pediatrics and in neurology, so the exam is planned for a child, not scaled down from an adult visit. He explains what the findings do and do not show.
This page does not list medication doses, and it does not say that a sign is harmless or serious for your child. Age changes the meaning: the same staring spell at age 2 and age 12 is not the same question. If you want a longer parent guide, read when a child needs a pediatric neurologist.
Frequently asked questions
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.