FAQ's

What is a pediatric neurologist, and why is my child being referred to the Child Neurology Clinic at Children’s Mercy?
Pediatric neurologists are pediatricians who have chosen to specialize in the areas of the developing brains and nervous systems of children. Pediatric neurologists are required to complete an extra three years training in neurology after finishing their residency in pediatrics. Some pediatric neurologists have completed additional training in a specific area of neurology such as pediatric epilepsy or movement disorders.

Your child has been referred to our clinic because your child's pediatrician believes that he or she may benefit from visiting a pediatric neurologist. We will work with both you and your pediatrician to determine the best treatment plan for your child.
What are your clinic’s normal business hours? Do I need an appointment to see a pediatric neurologist at Children's Mercy?
Business hours for the outpatient child neurology clinic are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:00 am until 4:30 pm. Our Acute Neurology Clinic is held each Wednesday from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm.

Please have your child's Primary Care Physician's office call us at (816) 234.3490 to refer your child for an appointment in our outpatient clinic or in our Acute Neurology clinic.
Can I pre-register for an appointment at the outpatient child neurology clinic? Are there any forms that I need to complete before my child’s scheduled appointment?
You can pre-register for an appointment by clicking here.
What information should I bring with me to my child’s first appointment?
A legal guardian should accompany your child to the clinic. If a legal guardian is not available, an adult who is aware of your child’s symptoms can accompany your child and will need to bring a notarized statement giving him or her permission to bring your child into the pediatric neurology outpatient clinic for treatment. These statements can be made to cover a one year period.

Please be sure you have your insurance card with you as well as a copy of any needed referral(s) from your primary care physician describing the reason for your child’s referral to our clinic. You should also bring any other relevant medical records or arrange to have them sent to our clinic.

To decrease waiting time and duplication of services, we recommend that patients bring original EEGs and X- rays along with any written reports.
Does my child need to have any tests done before his or her visit?
Usually, your child will not need to have any tests done before his or her visit. If the pediatric neurologist determines that additional tests may be helpful for your child, you will be told about them during your child’s first visit to the outpatient clinic.
What can my child and I expect on our first visit to your clinic?
Your child’s initial evaluation will usually take between one and one and one half hours.

First, the pediatric neurologist will take a medical history of your child. This history includes asking very detailed questions about any symptoms that you may have noticed, when the symptoms began, and how frequently the symptoms occur. The pediatric neurologist will also ask questions about your child’s developmental history, including his or her academic achievements (if applicable), questions about your child’s social skills, and questions about your child’s diet.

Next, your child’s pediatric neurologist will ask questions about you and the rest of your family (including mother, father, brothers and sisters, grandparents, etc). You may also be asked about your pregnancy and the birth of your child.

After the pediatric neurologist finishes taking your child’s history, your child will receive a complete physical and neurological examination.
My child is a current patient of a pediatric neurologist at Children’s Mercy Hospital, and I have a non-emergency question for my child’s pediatric neurologist. Who should I contact?
IF YOUR CHILD IS EXPERIENCING A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY

If you have a non-emergency question, you may call our outpatient clinic during normal working hours (M-F, 9:00 AM until 4:30 PM) at (816) 234-3490. If you are calling after hours, you may leave a message on our voicemail.
I would like some additional information on a specific neurology topic. Where can I look for this information?
We have provided some information on our website that might be of interest to you. Click on Resources to access our useful links to visit websites of organizations who provide information on specific disorders.

We have more board certified pediatric neurologists on staff than any other children’s hospital in the region treating more neurological disorders including epilepsy with the vagal nerve stimulator implants than any other hospital in the world. We also specialize in migraines, syncope, cerebral palsy and Tourette’s syndrome in children.

- Learn more about seizures in children, migraines in children and our vagal nerve stimulator implant treatment
- Discover more about the pediatric neurology services and treatments
- Epilepsy in children research program
- Meet our pediatric neurologist team