What is a neurologist?

Your career in neurology

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A neurologist is a medical doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating, and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system including, but not limited to, Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), concussion, epilepsy, migraine, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke.

A child or pediatric, neurologist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of neurologic disorders in children from the neonatal period through adolescence. Some of the conditions overlap with those seen by adult neurologists, and others are unique to this younger population. Child neurologists treat many of the same common conditions found in adults such as migraine, epilepsy, stroke, and Tourette’s and are also trained in conditions related to neurogenetics and developmental problems.

What Does a Neurologist Do?

Diagnose 

Neurologists are highly trained clinicians capable of diagnosing complex conditions through detailed history and physical examination, including testing of mental status, vision, speech, strength, sensation, coordination, reflexes, and gait. Even as medicine becomes more dependent on technology, the neurological exam will remain a critical component of the patient evaluation.

 

Performs Tests

Some common neurologic tests used to complete the evaluation include:

  • Computed tomography (CT) or computer-assisted tomography (CAT) scans
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  • Electroencephalography (EEG)
  • Nerve conduction studies and electromyography (NCS/EMG)
  • Lumbar puncture (LP) for cerebral spinal fluid analysis

 

Performs Procedures

We are different from neurosurgeons as we do not perform brain or spinal cord surgery. However, neurologists and neurosurgeons work closely together for several conditions, sometimes even in the operating room together.


General neurologists perform various procedures including LP and NCS/EMG. Subspecialty-trained neurologists also perform intraoperative brain and spine monitoring, autonomic testing, endovascular procedures including angiograms and coiling of aneurysms, botulinum toxin injections, skin and muscle biopsies.

 

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