Pediatric neurology centers.

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Hi there, which are the best pediatric neurology centers or hospitals in the United States and in the world? Thnx

I suspect your question is too undifferentiated. You can find lists of the "best" hospitals in the US on the website of US News and World Report, but they will mostly likely have a best for pediatrics, and a best for neurology, but probably not pediatric neurology. Are you looking for help with a brain tumor, a degenerative nerve disease, seizures, or what?

Autism is not normally treated from the perspective of neurology. There are autism centers in the US, examples would be University of Washington and University of Wisconsin, both highly regarded. Centers like this not only do research but treat children from a multidisciplinary perspective. They provide both expert assessment and expert therapy.

For most parents, the most salient question is, "what will my insurance cover?"

I've had neurologists, but that's been more for my motor skills problems and also the seizures I used to have rather than my autism, far as I know.

Yes mam I was looking for a neurologist to identify if my 8 years old daughter on the ASD , also has epilepsy . I read some scientific articles ,that does not eliminate the possibility that epilepsy can cause autism. I have heard that university of California in Los Angeles is the best autism center in the world. What do yu think about the two former opinions,thnx.

If your daughter has symptoms of epilepsy, I'd ask her primary care doctor to refer her to a neurologist. If she does not, then I wouldn't. Autism is also co-morbid with digestive system ailments, but if you don't have any symptoms of those, no one is going to want to treat it.

I have no information as to which are the best autism centers. I'd imagine several would like to claim that title! How wealthy are you, that you can go to any clinic without limitation?

lets leave the issue of money now.epilepsy specialists points that this disease doesnt have to show itself like in the movies. they also exist in a very subtle way that you cannot know that they are there. they also said that epilepsy could cause autism or autism like symptom. implying that treatment of epilepsy could mitigate some core symptoms or autism .may be a neurologist could rule that out,so i rest my mind from thinking about this issued.regards.

For grins and giggles

Kennedy Krieger, Maryland
Cleveland Clinic, Ohio
U of Michigan, Ann Arbor

I have heard from people who had their children diagnosed at those places that it was a decent experience.

Big issues are appointment times. Be prepared for 6+ month wait minimum. Cleveland will not make an appointment for diagnosis until ALL paper work is turned in. That means any an all chart/lab test etc have to be there before CC will give you a date. I think U of M is the same way, and you need a referral.

The other thing to consider, can you afford what the doctors want done? My friend's son was recommended to a school that was 80K a year. He was 4 at the time. He was recommended 60+ hours of ABA. Insurance will not cover the school at all, and no chance of getting 60+ hours ABA for a 4 year old that is sort of verbal and does interact with people somewhat. Getting diagnosised at the big deal place was great, but all the suggestions were unaffordable for a middle class income family. My friend then had to do all the leg work to scrounge up services in her area.

The good part to a big place is the referals are easy to get for other specialists, but you still have huge wait times unless it is an absolute medical emergency. Big places maybe more "current", but if the treatment out lay is tens of thousands of dollars, what good is it?

If it was my kid...

Word of mouth in your local area who is decent, and get more than a few points of view. Parents who have been there done that, can tell you what doctors lord over you, get preachy with parents or are helpful. Getting diagnosed locally is also good because most of the time, they know what services are available in your area. It does you know good to fly out to Kennedy Krieger, then fly back to small town Michigan. KK has no clue what help is available where you live.

Even if you are paying cash for everything, most big childhood autism diagnostic places want a referral or have you go through their developmental pediatricians clinic first.

OP's post is vague as hell, but threw this out because it is a start.