Facts About a Neurologist

Neurologists are doctors who deal with the nervous system in the body and diagnose a number of problems within it. Neurologists can help patients with chronic headaches or migraines, brain injuries, sleep disorders and brain tumors. There are a number of other illnesses and conditions that neurologists can treat, all dealing with some part of the body's nervous system.

Function

The nervous system includes the brain, the nerves, the spinal cord and the muscles in the body. A neurologist diagnoses problems within any of these areas and recommends a treatment program. He interviews the patient about her symptoms and family history of neurological problems, and may run tests if the patient shows symptoms of having a disorder.

Examinations

Neurologists are responsible for looking at a number of things in a patient. They will test how good a person's sense of balance is, how strong and flexible the muscles in the body are, and how the nerves in the neck and head are functioning; they will also test the patient's reflexes. Memory, speech and other cognitive abilities are also tested. Common tools used for diagnosing a problem include a CAT scan, an MRI or a spinal tap. The spinal tap is usually reserved for finding more severe problems or disorders.

Education

Neurologists have to go through extensive training before they can practice on their own. First, a neurologist must attend a four-year university and get a degree in premed to prepare for graduate school. After she has been granted acceptance into a medical school, a neurologist must attend for four years to become an M.D. or a D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy). Once they have graduated from medical school, neurologists will participate in a one-year internship for internal medicine or medicine and surgery. Finally, neurologists must spend three years in specialty training, where they will practice in their chosen area of treatment.

Misconceptions

Neurologists are not surgeons, but physicians. They are responsible for diagnosing a problem and treating it, not performing surgery on the patient. There are many different areas in which a neurologist can work. A pediatric neurologist, for example, works with nerve problems in children. Neurologists also conduct a great deal of research to help advance the field of medicine in developing new treatment options and improving the chances that a doctor will make a correct diagnosis.

Overlapping Areas

There are two major areas dealing with the nervous system that can overlap: psychiatry and neurology. Mental disorders are thought to be caused by a malfunction in the brain and nervous system. However, they are typically treated by a psychiatrist and not a neurologist. Scientists are still researching the exact cause of mental disorders, and neurologists may participate in research in these areas. If they have a case for which they cannot find a physical cause, they may recommend that the patient see a psychiatrist for further treatment.