What type of doctor would my child need to see if the school is telling me he has low muscle tone and balance issues?
Start with your pediatrician and get a referral.
That's what most insurance requires, and besides, that's usually the best place to start.
If the school is telling you because your child is having difficulty in school then I suggest that your child can be evaluated by the school district. Federal law requires that the district evaluate and provide treatment for any condition that prevents a child from having success in school. Call the district office and ask for the phone number of the office that does this. In my county it's called Multnomah County Educational Service District.
Otherwise, I agree that his pediatrician is the place to start. Even if you have the school district do an evaluation, I think I would still start with the pediatrician.
Definitely talk to your ped. Someone at the school could very well be correct, but I'd be willing to be no one there is qualified to diagnose. Your ped would be in a much better position to do this and to refer.
occupational therapy, my son has an IEP & we get our therapy through the state (free) and she is wonderful!!!
*my son just turned 5
Not only a Ped Neurologist... But hypotonia can be tricky. Even in severe cases its often not diagnosed correctly or treated correctly for years.
I'd reeeeeally recommend jumping the food chain, and setting up an appt with a Ped Neurologist in a Regional Children's Hospital. Since they see lots and lots and lots of hypotonia kids.
It may be 'nothing'... You may have an artsy kid who is a klutz. Or it could be very serious. I'm friends with a lot of hypotonia families... And ALL of them spent at least 1 year, if not 2-3 dealing with their local docs, ERs, etc. that just didn't SEE the symptoms of serious disorders (like head not held upright, but tipped back), or always bliwing phlegm bubbles, which are automatic admits in the ER at a regional children's hospital (one is a huge neuro red flag, the other a pulmonary red flag related to low muscle tone). Several HAD been to children's hospitals... But smaller/local ones instead of the regional ones... So the neurologists just aren't used to dealing with 10 a day, but maybe see 10 per year (while pediatricians might see 1 in 10 YEARS). There can be GREAT neurologists at local hospitals. HOWEVER, I can't tell you the sheer number of horror stories I listened to last year of SEVERE cases that were blown off, until the mistreated disorder was nearly at (or at) the terminal stage. :(
Talk to your pedi doctor. They are the best resource first and they can refer to whoever is best for what your child needs. Good luck!
Often pediatricians will miss muscle tone issues as long as the child is within the normal range. Your school can do a full evaluation and will give your child all the therapy he needs assuming his issues are mild. An appt with a neurodevelopmental pediatrician would also be helpful to rule out more serious underlying issues and to see what else may be going on. With therapy (usually Occupational Therapy) your son will probably be fine.
As others said, start with the pediatrician so you can get good referrals. A neurologist will probably factor in at some point. Your child will need a variety of therapies, including physical, occupational, and possibly speech.
Neuro but call your regular pediatrician & they will refer you.
Pediatric Neurologist. He then will tell you what is needed next. Good Luck!
Mommyc is right. A pediatric neurologist is a good starting point to help determine if there is a particular cause for his problems. The neurologist should be able to give you the name of an occupational therapist to work with him.
I would also see if the neurologist would like for you to see a pediatric ENT. Sometimes balance issues come from the inner ear, and that needs to be figured out.
Good luck with this.
Dawn
Start with the pediatrician (or get a new one since it wasn't caught before now). Your child will probably need to see several specialists, if he indeed has low muscle tone, including a mitochondrial specialist, endocrine specialist, neurologist, registered dietician, ear specialist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, etc.
Hmm.... I think go to pediatrics and tell them if the refer you to a muscle doctor from there BAM! there's your answer
