Types of Pediatric Specialists

If your child has a developmental, learning, or behavioral problem, a Developmental/Behavioral Pediatrician has the training and expertise to evaluate, counsel, and provide treatment for your child. They address developmental delays and disabilities, attention and behavioral issues, school related learning difficulties, regulatory and habit disorders, anxiety and stress management.

Pediatric Otolaryngologists specialize in conditions of the ear, nose, throat and related structures of the head and neck. They specialize in diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose and throat disorders, head and neck diseases, surgery of the head and neck, and assistance in the identification of communication disorders in children.

Pediatric Neurologists have special training to diagnose, treat, and manage problems involving a child’s nervous system. Some examples of these types of problems include: seizure disorders; head injuries and brain tumors; weakness, including that due to cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, or nervemuscle disorder; headaches, including migraines; behavioral issues, including ADHD, school failure, autism, and sleep problems; developmental delays; mental delays; and hydrocephalus.

If your child has an eye problem, is having difficulty with a vision screening exam or has difficulty reading or learning, or needs surgery or medical treatment for an illness affecting the eyes, a Pediatric Ophthalmologist has the experience and qualifications to treat your child. These specialists are concerned with eye disease, visual development and vision care in children. Their treatments may involve prescribing medication and/or glasses, diagnosing visual processing disorders, caring for eye injuries, or performing eye and eye muscle surgery. Using various instruments, many issues involving a child’s eye, including the need for glasses, may be diagnosed before a child is able to speak.

A pediatric cardiologist specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders and congenital or acquired heart diseases in children. Some examples of these types of conditions that may result in a referral to a pediatric cardiologist include: murmurs, cardiac function, arrhythmias, cyanosis, syndromes, chest pain, syncope/dizziness, cardiomyopathy, heart disease, Kawasaki disease and rheumatic heart disease.

If your child has problems with growth, puberty, diabetes, or other disorders related to the hormones and the glands that produce them, a pediatric endocrinologist may treat your child. Problems seen by pediatric endocrinologists are often quite different from those commonly seen by endocrinologists who care for adults. Special training in pediatric conditions as they relate to growth and development is important. Hormonal problems are often present for life. Pediatric endocrinologists deal with hormone disorders at all stages of childhood and teen years.

A pediatric rheumatologist specializes in providing comprehensive care to children with rheumatic diseases. A child may be referred to a pediatric rheumatologist for issues such as pain in the joints, muscles, bones or tendons, arthritis, unexplained rash, anemia, autoimmune disease, fibromyalgia, growing pains, and osteoporosis.

Pediatric nephrologists diagnose, treat, and manage issues affecting a child’s kidney and urinary tract. They address kidney problems such as failure, inherited disease, and stones as well as urinary tract issues such as infections, bladder problems, or abnormalities in urine. Pediatric nephrologists also evaluate and treat high blood pressure and problems with growth and development that are specific to chronic kidney disease.

When a child is born premature or has a serious illness, injury, or birth defect, a neonatologist can assist at the time of delivery and with the child’s subsequent care. If a problem is identified before a child is born, a neonatologist may become involved to consult with the mother’s obstetrician during pregnancy and delivery.

If your child has breathing problems or a problem with his or her lungs, a pediatric pulmonologist has the experience and qualifications to treat your child. Pediatric pulmonologists often treat children with conditions such as chronic cough, pneumonia, asthma, cystic fibrosis, apnea, chronic lung disease, and breathing related problems.

Pediatric physiatrists are trained to diagnose, treat, and direct a rehabilitation plan for children with conditions such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, birth brachial plexus palsy, torticollis, brain injury, congenital and acquired amputations, spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, burns, and congenital disorders. Pediatric physiatrists make recommendations combining therapy, equipment, and medication with the intended goal of an active healthy lifestyle for all patients.

A pediatric plastic surgeon performs surgery on a child to fix a deformity caused by a birth defect, injury, illness, or tumor. Children referred to a pediatric plastic surgeon may have conditions such as a cleft lip and palate, misshapen skull, protruding or absent ear, misshapen breasts, webbed fingers, injuries to various parts of the body, birthmarks and scars, and burns.

Pediatric gastroenterologists treat digestive, liver, pancreatic, and nutritional disorders in children.  Issues in these areas in children are often quite different than in adults, which require a pediatric GI’s specific knowledge of these systems in children. Children referred to a pediatric GI may have conditions such as constipation, reflux, weight loss or gain, food allergies, vomiting, lactose intolerance, liver disease, abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, bowel issues, nutritional problems, and feeding disorders.

Pediatric allergists/immunologists specialize in the treatment of a wide range of issues with a child’s immune system. Children referred to a pediatric immunologist may have conditions such as asthma, hay fever, eczema, hives, severe reactions to foods, insect stings, and medications, and frequent sinusitis, pneumonia, or diarrhea.

Pediatric orthopedists evaluate, diagnose, treat, and manage children’s bone, joint, and muscle health. Children referred to a pediatric orthopedic may have limb or spine deformities such as club foot or scoliosis, gait abnormalities (limping), bone and joint infections, or broken bones.

Pediatric geneticists are physicians with special training in both pediatrics and genetics. Pediatric geneticists diagnose, counsel, and treat families with many different kinds of problems including birth defects, conditions that can cause disabilities, inborn errors of metabolism, familial or hereditary problems, and short or tall stature.

Pediatric Audiologists work in partnership with families, educators, and other health care and agency providers to encourage the best possible communication development for children with hearing loss. A child may be referred to a pediatric audiologist for hearing evaluations and or screenings, middle ear function assessment, hearing aid consultations, ototoxicity monitoring, and assistive listening devices.

Pediatric podiatrists have specialized training in the care for children’s feet and consider the first year of a child’s life to be a crucial time in foot development. Conditions treated by a pediatric podiatrist include diagnosing, treating and preventing disease of the foot such as flat feet, bowed legs, toe walking, pigeon toe, and knock knees.

Pediatric radiologists are experts in selecting the best imaging techniques to diagnose medical and surgical problems in children. Examples of imaging techniques include x-ray, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and nuclear medicine. Pediatric radiologists make sure that testing is performed properly and safely. They also interpret the results of the test and make an appropriate diagnosis.

Pediatric dietitians are concerned with the health and nutrition of children. The health requirements of children are different from those of adults. Pediatric dietitians are specialized to guide and monitor the eating patterns of children with special needs, obese children, young diabetes patients, premature infants and other children with particular nutritional needs. Pediatric dietitians plan menus, counsel families, analyze nutritional health and monitor the progress of children on special diets.