After having a child with special needs, you will find yourself learning a lot more about the medical field than you have ever imagined. It can be very confusing. Often times you need to see a specialist, but which one? Here is a quick guide that we hope helps to take out some of that confusion:
- Allergy – Specializing in treatment of allergies. Allergies are a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system – usually triggered by an environmental substance.
- Anesthesia – Specializing in sedation, usually in an operating setting.
- Cardiology – Specializing in the heart and all things related to the cardiovascular system.
- Cardiothoracic Surgery – Surgery that specializes in heart and cardiovascular related procedures.
- Dentistry- specialized in prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of diseases and conditions related to the oral cavity (mouth)
- Dermatology – Specializes in skin
- Emergency Medicine – Usually found in the ER
- Endocrinology- Specializing in the endocrine system, related to hormones (often the thyroid or other glands)
- Gastroenterology- Specializing in the gastrointestinal tract (digestive tract).
- Genetics- Specializing in genetic markers, diseases, and conditions
- Hematology – Specializing in blood related issues
- Immunology- Specializing in the immune system
- Infectious Disease- Specialize in hard to diagnosis infections.
- Neonatal ICU (Intensivist)- Usually found in NICU and similar units in hospitals
- Neonatology- Specializing in neonates (babies)
- Nephrology- Specializes in Kidneys
- Neurology- Specializing in the brain
- Neurosurgery- Surgeon that specializes in brain surgeries
- Oncology- Specializes in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer
- Ophthalmology- Specializes in the eyes (can do surgery)
- Optometry- Specializes in the eyes (cannot do surgery)
- Oral and Maxi Facial- Surgical specialist for diseases, injuries and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws and the hard and soft tissues of the head and face, part of the dental branch
- Orthodontics- Additional dental training for aligning teeth and jaw
- Otolaryngology- All things ear, nose and throat related. Also called ENT
- Palliative- Specializes in relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of serious illness
- Pathology- Specializes in the body’s response to and repairing of injury to cells and tissue
- Pediatric ICU (Intensivist)- Usually found in PICU and similar units in hospitals
- Pediatrician- Primary care, specializing in children and babies
- Podiatrist-Specializes in feet
- Physical Rehab- Specializes in restoring functional ability and quality of life to patients with physical impairments or disabilities
- Plastic Surgery- Specializes in correction and restoration of form and function. Not just cosmetic, also reconstructive, hand, burns, cleft, and much more.
- Psychiatry- Specializes in emotional and psychology disorders, may provide chemical intervention
- Psychology- Specializes in emotional and psychology disorders, may not provide chemical intervention
- Pulmonary- Specializes in the respiratory system (breathing)
- Radiology- Specializes in imaging
- Rheumatology- Specializes in joints, muscles and bones
- Urology- Specializes in urinary tracts, and male reproductive systems