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Neurological disorders can affect people of all ages, including children. But children’s neurological issues may be very different from those that are typically seen in adults. Pediatric neurosurgeons specialize in treating the many disorders and abnormalities of the brain, spine and nervous system that can affect children from birth to adulthood.

If your child has been diagnosed with a neurological condition, your pediatrician may have referred you to a pediatric neurosurgeon for evaluation and treatment, but you can also search for a doctor on your own. Research, referrals and reviews can help you to choose the right pediatric neurosurgeon in Bergen County, New Jersey to treat your child’s condition.

Why Do You Need a Pediatric Neurosurgeon?

Neurosurgeons, in general, are surgeons with additional training in the highly specialized field of neurosurgery, dedicated to resolving issues such as tumors, vascular abnormalities, and other malformations and obstructions that affect the healthy functioning of the brain, spine and central nervous system.

Many of these problems affect children, too. Like adults, children can experience tumors of the brain and spine, as well as abnormalities of the blood vessels in the brain and malformations that affect the central and peripheral nervous systems. Children of all ages can also have epilepsy or experience events such as a stroke or a traumatic injury to the brain or spinal cord.

However, children are also affected by a range of other neurological conditions that adults don’t experience. Congenital defects in the brain and spine such as hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, and neural tube disorders like spina bifida may need not only surgery but also treatment throughout life. Children can also be born with craniofacial deformities that affect sight, hearing and functions such as breathing and swallowing.

What Does a Pediatric Neurosurgeon Do?

A pediatric neurosurgeon is a fully trained general neurosurgeon with additional training in the treatment and management of pediatric neurological conditions. These specialists are able to perform a variety of surgical procedures to correct many neurological conditions affecting children of all ages, with special considerations for their developing bodies and brains.

Pediatric neurosurgeons can operate on a child, from a newborn to a high schooler, and because many childhood neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy persist into adulthood, they also work with other members of the child’s care team to oversee ongoing treatment.

Pediatric neurosurgeons also help children even before birth. When prenatal screenings identify a potential neurological problem in a developing fetus, parents might meet with a pediatric neurosurgeon to discuss treatment options. Pediatric neurosurgeons can also provide non surgical alternatives to treat a child’s neurological condition. Because a pediatric neurosurgeon is likely to be involved with a child’s care for the long term, it’s important to seek out a doctor that you and your child can trust.

Seek Referrals

Your child’s pediatrician may have provided you with the names of neurosurgeons to consider, but you can always add others to the list until you find the right fit for your child’s situation. Ask other health professionals for recommendations, or talk with other parents whose child has had a similar condition. Look for pediatric neurosurgeons in Bergen County who have specific experience in treating your child’s health condition.

Do Your Own Research

Take some time to investigate a potential candidate’s background, experience and professional qualifications. View their profiles to learn what schools they attended, and what professional certifications and diplomas they might have received. In the U.S., pediatric neurosurgeons must be certified both by the American Board of Neurological Surgery and by the American Board of Pediatric Neurological Surgery. Look for additional specialized training in treating your child’s condition, such as a residency in neuro-oncology, or a specialization in treating neural tube defects.

Your research can also reveal whether a prospective candidate has ever been disciplined, sanctioned or had licenses revoked for any reason. You can also learn about the facilities where a particular surgeon performs procedures, such as hospitals and clinics, and whether those facilities have ever received “failing grades” in any important metrics. You may also want to know whether a facility has special support for pediatric neurosurgical patients and to know who is on the surgeon’s support team during your child’s surgery and recovery.

Read Reviews

Reviews aren’t just for restaurants. People across the US are using review sites to detail their experiences, both good and bad, with medical professionals and facilities of all kinds. Read reviews previous patients have left about particular neurosurgeons and the equipment and facilities they use. Look for specific comments by parents of children with conditions similar to your child’s.

Schedule a Consultation

Finally, consider scheduling a consultation with potential neurosurgeons. That meeting can help you determine how the surgeon relates to you and your child, and to ask questions and raise concerns. The neurosurgeon should be willing to listen and respond honestly and respectfully to your questions. He or she should also thoroughly explain your child’s condition and potential treatments with their respective risks and benefits. Because a pediatric neurosurgeon will most likely be involved in your child’s care over a period of time, it’s also important to consider how he or she relates to your child. Consider whether the surgeon treats your child with compassion and respect, and takes time to address the child’s fears and worries too.

Pediatric neurosurgeons are highly trained professionals dedicated to providing both surgical and nonsurgical care for even the smallest patients. With referrals, reviews and research of your own, you’ll be able to find the right neurosurgeon in Bergen County for your child’s treatment and recovery.