What is a physical examination?
A physical examination may be carried out by a doctor, nurse practitioner, or medical resident. It’s a way of checking for any problems with the body. As part of the examination, the doctor looks carefully at the body, feels different parts of the body, and listens to parts of the body. The doctor will ask specific questions about symptoms, such as when they started, since this can provide clues to the type of condition the child may have.
The doctor will perform a neurological examination as part of the physical examination. If the results suggest that your child may have epilepsy or a physical problem that is causing seizures, additional tests may be scheduled. These tests may include blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or urine tests, an EEG, or neuroimaging, which provides a picture of the brain.
What will the doctor look for in the physical exam?
The doctor generally starts by looking at your child. She will examine his appearance, skin colour, general health, comfort level, and behaviour, and measure height and weight. The doctor may record your child’s vital signs. These include things like pulse rate, breathing rate, body temperature (using a thermometer), and blood pressure (using a blood pressure cuff).
The doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to your child’s heart and his lungs for problems. She will look for general physical abnormalities and certain birthmarks. She will look for new neurological problems and try to rule out other problems that might look like seizures or disorders that might cause seizures.
What is a neurological examination?
A neurological examination is part of the physical examination. It tests your child’s brain and nervous system.
A neurological examination will help to find out which part of your child’s brain is affected and is causing symptoms. It may be repeated throughout treatment to see if there are changes in your child’s symptoms.
The neurological examination consists of a series of tests. Each part of your brain controls your ability to do the most basic things, such as smiling, opening and closing your eyes, and balancing when you walk. All these are tested in a neurological exam.
The tests help to show if a particular part of the brain is affected. For instance, in one test the examiner might ask your child to walk on his toes. If your child has difficulty with this, it may suggest there is a problem with his motor system. Many patients will also be sent to an eye doctor called an ophthalmologist for further eye tests.
What happens during a neurological examination?
A full neurological exam takes between 10 and 30 minutes. Parents may be present.
Here are some examples of tests that might be done during a neurological exam. Depending on your child’s age and level of development, the tests may be different.
- Mental status: Your child may be asked the time, the day of the week, and the date. He may be asked to repeat a list of objects, describe yesterday’s breakfast, and talk about a recent holiday or family gathering. His level of attention to the person conducting the test will be observed.
- Cranial nerve functions: Your child may be asked to follow an object with his eyes, to see how well they move. He may be asked to smile, turn his head, shrug his shoulders, stick his tongue out, and open and close his eyes.
- Motor function: To test muscle strength, your child may be asked to grip the examiner’s hand. He may have to hold his arms straight out for 10 seconds with his eyes closed. The examiner may hold his arms and legs, and ask him to push.
- Reflexes: The examiner may test your child’s arm, leg, and foot reflexes by gently tapping on them with a rubber hammer.
- Coordination and gait: Your child may be asked to walk on his toes, balance on one foot, and balance with his feet together and his eyes closed. He may be asked to touch his fingers to his nose, and then to the examiner’s finger.
- Sensory function: Your child’s sense of touch may be tested using various objects such as a pin point or cotton ball.