What is a Neurologist?

About Neurologists

A Neurologist is a physician who provides diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders and related conditions affecting the central and peripheral nervous systems. This specialism includes expertise in the physiology of the body’s nervous systems and its comprising blood vessels and tissue coverings.

Neurologists examine patients by completing a comprehensive medical history as well as a physical examination and diagnostic tests to assess the patient’s cognitive functions, cranial nerves, motor strength, sensation, reflexes, coordination, and gait.

Tests performed, ordered, and analyzed by a Neurologist include imaging technology such as computed axial tomography (CAT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound of major blood vessels of the head and neck.

Some of the conditions that are commonly treated by Neurologists include severe or recurring headaches, stroke, dementia, seizures and epilepsy, Alzheimer's, ADHD, Parkinson's disease, Tourette's syndrome, multiple sclerosis, head trauma, sleep disorders, neuromuscular diseases, and various infections and tumors of the nervous system. Further treatment can include the Neurologist referring a patient to other specialists including physiotherapists as well as recommending surgery.

Neurologists can provide referrals to other medical specialists depending on the patients’ needs as well as work in conjunction with other physicians to provide combined treatment such as in the case of if surgery is required, patients would be referred to a neurosurgeon. Other specialists who often work closely with Neurologists can include Family Doctors / General Practitioners, Infectious Disease Specialists, Internists, Emergency Medicine Specialists, and Pain Management Specialists.

Useful Resources

Canada

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

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