A neurodisability paediatrician is a clinician who specialises in the management of children and young people with disabilities, resulting from congenital or acquired long-term conditions.
These problems are generally due to impairment in the nervous or musculoskeletal systems and can be static or progressive in nature. Although we are involved in diagnosis, our emphasis is in managing complex comorbidities and enhancing a child or young person’s enablement and participation. We work closely with colleagues in other specialties (such as genetics, neurology, community paediatrics, surgical specialties and palliative care), as well as the therapies, NGO's and education and social care services.
At a tertiary level neurodisability paediatricians have specialist skills within the neurosciences, including in the assessment and management of tone and posture, neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g. attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism), and neurorehabilitation (e.g. following an acquired brain injury).
There are a number of overlaps with community child health, paediatric neurology, and general paediatrics with a special interest in medical complexity; the following table highlights the similarities and differences:
Specialties Comparison Table
