Doctors
Question:
neurologist is good at diagnosing neuroligical problems like tourrettes, ADD, and other problems and are the specialists with the meds that are appropriate. a psychiatrist can also diagnose but they are better with psychiatric problems (ie mental illness) of which the above are not. A psychologist, unlike the other doctors, is not an MD, but is a PhD. and has expertise in diagnosing learning and psychological problems/disorders and doing therapy. Many use behavioral treatment which is good for kids with ADD and helpful for the parents to consult with to learn how to deal more effectively in the home with your child. Some kids just need to talk about how they feel about having disorders that are not completely within their control and to learn how to deal with teasing from other kids. You can chose a psychologist or a social worker who does psychotherapy (like me… 
). ) Most social workers have their masters and you will know from other people who are the really good therapists out there in you area. Also, mental health clinics have social workers if money is a problem, as they usually use a sliding scale. a mental health clinic that specializes in work with children is what you should look for. Hope this is helpful. joan
Response:
We were suppose to wait until May 2000 but my family doctor got him in in Januarybecause of school issues.. So really we were lucky. Pretty sad situation here in terms of accessiblity to specialists.Our health care is free but there still are sacrifices as a result.
Response:
Some kids just need to talk about how they feel about having > disorders that are not completely within their control and to learn how to deal > with teasing from other kids
Joan, excellent suggestion. This is something I think we all too often overlook. Sometimes, just being able to TALK to somebody is more helpful than anything else. KAT in CT
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Can anyone give me advise as to what type of care I should be obtaining for my son from a neurologist versus a psychiatrist/psychologist? The world of medicine is seeming to not be in sync with one another?
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Generally, TS is treated by both neurologists and psychiatrists. Our children have seen an experienced developmental pediatrician who specializes in these areas. What matters most is that the physician is well-versed on the treatment options re. TS, experienced with TS and/or up-to-date on latest treatment options and is aware of differing side effects of medications. It is also important that you and your son establish a positive, working relationship with the physician(s) who treat your son, and that you all are working together to help your son be his ‘best’ whatever that may be.
Response:
On Sun, 28 Nov 1999 06:01:45 GMT, Blair Patterson <patte…@telusplanet.net> wrote: >Can anyone give me advise as to what type of care I should be obtaining >for my son from a neurologist versus a psychiatrist/psychologist? The >world of medicine is seeming to not be in sync with one another?
TS is treated medically by both neurologists and psychiatrists. Both specialties are MD’s with considerable additional training. A psychologist typically is NOT an MD. A psychologist can provide counseling, provide evaluation and testing, etc. And there are also psychotherapists who can provide counseling. The key is what type of help does your son NEED? Some need no outside help after diagnosis. Some can make good use of therapy to help learn to deal with the issues the syndrome may show in them. Some require evaluation and testing; they may have learning disabilities, even if they are very intelligent. And others need medication to help control symptoms. Vicki H.
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I have a psychiatrist that dosn’t seem to beleive in touretts syndrome but i realy think i have it. Are there some doctors who just don’t beleive in it or anything?
Response:
In article <01bc4c43$a49fff00$4b15ae98@default>, "MichaelTheTrill" <MichaelTheTr…@msn.com> wrote:
>I have a psychiatrist that dosn’t seem to beleive in touretts syndrome but >i realy think i have it. Are there some doctors who just don’t beleive in >it or anything? Good grief. Doctors are not special people; they are like anyone else. Some are very smart. Some are very stupid (don’t ask me how those got through med-school). Some are caring individuals, and some are conceited, arrogant bastards (yeah, we KNOW how these got through med-school). Either your doctor has a real problem, or is quibbling over terminology and technicalities. I advise you to sit him or her down and ask for a complete explanation of this. If it turns out that this doctor believes in a spectrum of tic disorders which are too diverse to fall into one "syndrome," then that’s ok, more or less. It’s just a terminology problem, and your doctor is perhaps a little too zealous and detached from the reality of what it is like to have full blown Tourette Syndrome. If it turns out that this person is an idiot who simply doesn’t believe in it, get a new doctor immediately. I personally would also tell him/her that rather than sue for malpractice, you’ll just withhold payment for this visit. You may not wish to go this far; sometimes it’s better just to give them the money they want and get rid of them. Don’t worry. There is something which we call Tourette Syndrome, and no matter how you slice the terminology, or how hard your doctor disbelieves, we who live it know very well what it’s like. Read this group for a while. Several months worth of posts in this group will teach you a great deal about TS. In the meantime, you might want to contact TSA to learn more about it. Bear in mind that you are more likely to hear the real nitty-gritty personal-experience stories here in this newsgroup than just about anywhere else in the world. You will also find some disagreement – some of it quite hot – over what is and is not Tourette Syndrome, and how it should or should not be treated. This newsgroup is the place to get a broad view and big picture of what you may be dealing with in your life. But… for your information, here is the address for Tourette Syndrome Association: Tourette Syndrome Association 42-40 Bell Blvd., Suite 205 Bayside, New York 11361-2820 (800) 237-0717 Good luck, Shooshie
Response:
MichaelTheTrill wrote: > I have a psychiatrist that dosn’t seem to beleive in touretts syndrome but > i realy think i have it. Are there some doctors who just don’t beleive in > it or anything?
There are too many Dr’s who comiitt medicine ratheer practice it as that parchment on their wall says. I’d have to advise you seek out a more compentent MD( one with an open mind and heart) Very rare in RI where I live, Bob
