Neurologist?

Debating on taking DS to see a neurologist. He's not categorized as anything. I know he had sensory issues and receptive and expressive delays. Loves hugs, but. Always cautious. Doesn't like certain things like singing toys or if there is too much craziness going on. For example... St my friends house. (where it gets really loud) DS got uncomfortable. Kids yelling, dogs barking, too many toys making sounds, etc.
Other times if you didn't know he had a delay you wouldn't be able to tell. He does and is really starting to engage in conversation. Understands what and where, but not the other questions. Plays with other kids and affectionate. He's also very smart and memorized a lot and learns a lot easily b.c he loves to learn. Especially music.
He had speech and OT till he turned 3 and now he's in out local preschool pop program where he gets speech everyday and OT once a week. He's doing well, but still needs lots of help. Hard to transition him to different activities and he thrives on structure so sometimes doesn't do well with change.

All that said what are your thoughts about a neurologist? My sister is a speech teacher and said they are the ones to diagnose. They pretty much get all their insight from the teachers though.
Thanks!

Re: Neurologist?

A diagnosis can be made by a pediatric neurologist, a neuropsychologist, or a developmental pediatrician. We got our spectrum diagnosis from a developmental pediatrician and most of my friends got their diagnosis from a developmental pediatrician as well. I think they paint a better allover picture. You can also possibly get a diagnosis from the psychologist on staff at your district. I'm not saying your DS is on the spectrum or not but you can get any kind of developmental delay diagnosis from any of these people.

I know you're in Jersey like me, we went to St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Paterson but I'm sure you can go anywhere. We "knew" he was on the spectrum and St. Joe's developmental pediatrics dept is highly regarded. So his Hackensack's.

Just a heads up it can take months to get an appt anywhere with these types of drs, so I'd start calling now and making appts just to get on the calendar with as many different types of drs as you can and then cancel the others when you get the earliest one with the dr you actually want to see.

I've never heard of the POP program, our DS attends the special needs preK program in our district. We looked at a few districts in Bergen (where we live) and it's never come up. Is POP something specific to your town or county?

Re: Neurologist?

I guess just specific for the township. Preschool Opportunity Program for children who have developmental delays.