6 year old initial Neurologist evaluation: what to expect?
Question:
Hi, my son is 6 and has been having tics on and off for about 6 months. At the end of Kindergarten this spring, I noticed he was repeatedly licking his fingers. This lasted about a month then it stopped. Then, during camp this summer, I noticed that he would scratch is lower legs, alternatively, when he was in plays in camp. This stopped. Now, for the past month, he has been repeatedly clearing his throat. We saw his pediatrician yesterday, who saw no physical cause. My heart just sank. She told my son that it is "just something you do" and it will likely pass. When I discussed it in private with the doctor, she told me that I could take him to a neurologist if I was concerned. So, I will be making an appointment for him at Children’s Hospital in Phila. I am wondering what I can expect for the evaluation. Anything you can share with me would be helpful. Thank you so much!!! Beth
Response:
I have no idea what is done in the states, however in Canada diagnosis is based on observation and family history. Good luck and don’t be afraid to ask questions, request written information, and talk. "beth" <bethmer…@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:37ff2c22.0409220441.1157f7ae@posting.google.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi, my son is 6 and has been having tics on and off for about 6 > months. At the end of Kindergarten this spring, I noticed he was > repeatedly licking his fingers. This lasted about a month then it > stopped. Then, during camp this summer, I noticed that he would > scratch is lower legs, alternatively, when he was in plays in camp. > This stopped. Now, for the past month, he has been repeatedly > clearing his throat. We saw his pediatrician yesterday, who saw no > physical cause. My heart just sank. She told my son that it is "just > something you do" and it will likely pass. When I discussed it in > private with the doctor, she told me that I could take him to a > neurologist if I was concerned. So, I will be making an appointment > for him at Children’s Hospital in Phila. > I am wondering what I can expect for the evaluation. Anything you can > share with me would be helpful. > Thank you so much!!! > Beth
Response:
"Bryan & Naomi Jennings" <kic…@telus.net> wrote in message news:dWf4d.73286$KU5.57792@edtnps89… > I have no idea what is done in the states, however in Canada diagnosis is > based on observation and family history. > Good luck and don’t be afraid to ask questions, request written information, > and talk.
In my neck of the wood in Canada, my son had an EEG as well as. The neurodiagnostician asked him questions and observed him. And with our observations he was made the diagnosis. — Joanne mom to Mat the Amazing!
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -bethmer…@yahoo.com (beth) wrote in message <news:37ff2c22.0409220441.1157f7ae@posting.google.com>… > Hi, my son is 6 and has been having tics on and off for about 6 > months. At the end of Kindergarten this spring, I noticed he was > repeatedly licking his fingers. This lasted about a month then it > stopped. Then, during camp this summer, I noticed that he would > scratch is lower legs, alternatively, when he was in plays in camp. > This stopped. Now, for the past month, he has been repeatedly > clearing his throat. We saw his pediatrician yesterday, who saw no > physical cause. My heart just sank. She told my son that it is "just > something you do" and it will likely pass. When I discussed it in > private with the doctor, she told me that I could take him to a > neurologist if I was concerned. So, I will be making an appointment > for him at Children’s Hospital in Phila. > I am wondering what I can expect for the evaluation. Anything you can > share with me would be helpful. > Thank you so much!!! > Beth
Hi Beth, First, your pediatrician is most likely correct, that it will probably pass. Next, evaluations can differ quite a bit depending on the neurologist. Hopefully it will be more than a cursory evaluation. You can expect to fill out paperwork with family medical histories. Also detailed paperwork concerning your son’s early development, probably including pregnancy and birth questions. First steps, first words, etc. I found it helpful to have my baby book with me. You could call first to see what kinds of paperwork you’d be filling out so you would be prepared. I wouldn’t think they would do a "full workup" of tests on your son right away, they would hopefully have you come back if they suspected the need for further testing. At first, I would think they would have him do simple things, like walk across the room, reflex testing, etc. I’m sure others here will have more to add, since as I mentioned, all neurologists do things differently. Good luck and try not to borrow trouble! Sara
Response:
In article <dHJhZmZpYw==.309e62f5aec36c8b7120d5327328a…@1095867441.nulluser.com>, – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Christie wrote: >beth wrote: >> Hi, my son is 6 and has been having tics on and off for about 6 >> months. At the end of Kindergarten this spring, I noticed he was >> repeatedly licking his fingers. This lasted about a month then it >> stopped. Then, during camp this summer, I noticed that he would >> scratch is lower legs, alternatively, when he was in plays in camp. >> This stopped. Now, for the past month, he has been repeatedly >> clearing his throat. We saw his pediatrician yesterday, who saw no >> physical cause. My heart just sank. She told my son that it is "just >> something you do" and it will likely pass. When I discussed it in >> private with the doctor, she told me that I could take him to a >> neurologist if I was concerned. So, I will be making an appointment >> for him at Children’s Hospital in Phila. >> I am wondering what I can expect for the evaluation. Anything you can >> share with me would be helpful. >> Thank you so much!!! >> Beth
Beth, hopefully the neurologist is well-informed about T.S. You might like to find out first how much experience he or she has with it. The neurologist might want to see the tics for himself. Were your son’s tics apparent when his pediatrician saw him? >Hi, Beth.
Hi again, Christie! I’m very glad you’ve started using your computer to send messages to a.s.t. ! Blurt – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->When I took my son, we had to fill out a detailed health history >including pregnancy and labor complications, a family history of various >problems, and my son’s health history, including a history his symptoms >– when they started, describe them, etc. >When the neurologist evaluated my son, he tested him with things like >heel-to-toe walking, touching his nose with his eyes closed, standing on >one foot, etc. He told me that he was testing his cranial nerves. I >can’t remember other parts of the examination now, but he didn’t order >any EEG tests or other tests at the first evaluation. >Let us know how you make out. Even if your son has tics, it’s not the >end of the world, even though I felt like it might be when I first heard >the diagnosis.
Response:
beth wrote: > Hi, my son is 6 and has been having tics on and off for about 6 > months. At the end of Kindergarten this spring, I noticed he was > repeatedly licking his fingers. This lasted about a month then it > stopped. Then, during camp this summer, I noticed that he would > scratch is lower legs, alternatively, when he was in plays in camp. > This stopped. Now, for the past month, he has been repeatedly > clearing his throat. We saw his pediatrician yesterday, who saw no > physical cause. My heart just sank. She told my son that it is "just > something you do" and it will likely pass.
You’re lucky to have a pediatrician who appears to be up on the research. Your son is at the age where tics typically appear, and as your pediatrician stated, they are likely to pass. Unless your son also has signs of other conditions (such as ADHD, OCD, mood disorders, learning disabilities, or autism spectrum disorders), tics are not likely to have a large impact on his life (assuming his tics are not "mismanaged" as in "the zealous pursuit of a cure.") http://p082.ezboard.com/ftourettesyndromenowwhatfrm5.showMessage?topi… > When I discussed it in > private with the doctor, she told me that I could take him to a > neurologist if I was concerned. So, I will be making an appointment > for him at Children’s Hospital in Phila.
There is an excellent physician at CHOP … http://p082.ezboard.com/ftourettesyndromenowwhatfrm22.showMessage?top… > I am wondering what I can expect for the evaluation. Anything you can > share with me would be helpful.
If you are able to see Larry Brown, I would expect him to tell you similar things to what he has written … here’s an example of his writing/approach: http://www.healthcentral.com/BestDoctors/BestDoctorsFulltext.cfm?ID=3… He may question you about the possible presence of comorbid conditions, which are likely to have a greater impact on social, academic and behavioral functioning than tics are, and will likely you help you become educated about the different conditions. Knowledge and education are the best, and often the only, treatments needed for tics. — Tourette Syndrome – Now What? http://tourettenowwhat.tripod.com
Response:
In article <41522A45.B6E56…@optonline.net>, TSN wrote:
<snip> TSN is a big improvement, and needs no question mark. Thanks. Blurt
Response:
Hurricane Blurt <blurtdurtw…@worldnet.att.net> wrote – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi again, Christie! I’m very glad you’ve started using your computer > to send messages to a.s.t. ! > Blurt > >When I took my son, we had to fill out a detailed health history > >including pregnancy and labor complications, a family history of various > >problems, and my son’s health history, including a history his symptoms > >– when they started, describe them, etc. > >When the neurologist evaluated my son, he tested him with things like > >heel-to-toe walking, touching his nose with his eyes closed, standing on > >one foot, etc. He told me that he was testing his cranial nerves. I > >can’t remember other parts of the examination now, but he didn’t order > >any EEG tests or other tests at the first evaluation. > >Let us know how you make out. Even if your son has tics, it’s not the > >end of the world, even though I felt like it might be when I first heard > >the diagnosis.
Ok, this is like the 4th or 5th time I’ve seen a reference to someone named Christie and seen her posts QUOTED but I have NEVER seen her posts. Why, why, why???????? Sara
Response:
In article <e8c834be.0409221937.3c560…@posting.google.com>, Sara wrote: >Ok, this is like the 4th or 5th time I’ve seen a reference to someone >named Christie and seen her posts QUOTED but I have NEVER seen her >posts. Why, why, why????????
I hadn’t noticed, but I just looked at the last one I repied to, and it had the no archive line in the headers. Google won’t post messages that do. Blurt
Response:
‘Twas Thu, 23 Sep 2004 02:06:08 GMT when all alt.support.tourette stood in awe as Hurricane Blurt <blurtdurtw…@worldnet.att.net> uttered: >In article <41522A45.B6E56…@optonline.net>, >TSN wrote: ><snip> >TSN is a big improvement, and needs no question mark. Thanks.
I wonder if She meant it that way, or if it was a typo after changing her From line three times. To me the name TSN looks like a cable channel: Tourette Syndrome Network. — RB |
