Preparing for a Pediatric Neurology Appointment

It is normal to feel uneasy about bringing your child to their first visit with a neurologist. Knowing what to expect can help you prepare and reduce your concerns.

New Patient Visit Form

What to Expect at the First Visit

The length of your first visit may vary, but on average, will usually take 1-2 hours.

• During your visit, your pediatric neurologist will:
  • review your child’s medical history, medical concern, family history, current listing of medications and allergies
  • perform a physical exam, including a specific pediatric neurological exam or pediatric development test

• At the conclusion of your visit, the physician may:
  • request certain lab or other diagnostic tests to identify or rule out certain diagnoses
  • prescribe medications and provide dosage instructions
  • schedule a follow-up visit to review lab/test results

What to Bring

To provide for a smooth visit, please bring all of the following items when you arrive:

1. A picture I.D.
2. Your child’s insurance card(s)
3. Any applicable deductible, co-insurance or co-payment
4. Your child’s current medications in their original containers (including over the counter)
5. Completed New Patient Visit Form
6. Any medical records, prior test results, imaging results, videos of spells, if applicable or available
7. Any court documents regarding guardianship and custody, if applicable

Please, note:

1. If the visit is due to an evaluation for a seizure/spell, bring the witness of the event to the appointment (or have them readily available by telephone). This is absolutely crucial for making the correct diagnosis.
2. The parent or legal guardian who has custody must accompany any child of less than 18 years of age to this (and every subsequent) appointment. While grandparents and family friends may have the ability to drive the child to the appointment, they are often unable to provide a detailed medical history to help make the correct diagnosis and come up with the right treatment. Neither do they have legal rights to provide informed consent nor sign the required paperwork. It is very important for parents to participate in treatment plan discussion and understand it. If the child arrives to the appointment without the custodial parent or legal guardian, the appointment will have to be rescheduled.
3. A copy of a power of attorney, healthcare proxy, or legal guardianship documents are required at the time of your appointment if you are signing on behalf of a patient over the age of 18.

Additional Helpful Resources:

• Epilepsy Foundation