TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 1. History and Examination A1 - Carney, Paul R. A1 - Geyer, James D. A2 - Carney, Paul R. A2 - Geyer, James D. PY - 2010 T2 - Pediatric Practice: Neurology AB - Children who present with neurological problems or developmental abnormalities on general physical examination should undergo a complete neurological assessment.1,2 Initially, as much information as possible from the parents or caregivers should be obtained during the first visit. During the initial clinical encounter, the examiner should formulate an opinion regarding possible causes (Table 1-1). A diagnostic hypothesis can then be confirmed, supported, or rejected by the neurological and physical examinations, laboratory tests, and other tests. A clear chief complaint is probably one of the most important first steps, and is best elicited from the child, parents, or caretakers. It is common that school-age children may often provide their own chief complaint. The chief complaint should represent the exact words or expression of the child or parent and not a reinterpretation of the symptoms by the physician. Ideally, the child or parent should be allowed to freely tell the story without interruption or distractions. However, brief directed questions can help focus the interview, especially if the history begins to wander. It is important to note that one should be certain that interrupting will not result in suppression or skewing of important information and the parent's concerns. SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/20 UR - accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=6650001 ER -