NEUROLOGY

Understanding Neurology

Neurology is the specialist branch of Medicine that deals with the nervous system. This includes the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves and muscles. The special senses of smell, vision, hearing and balance also often involve neurologists usually overlapping with ophthalmologists (eye specialists), and Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) surgeons. Neurosurgeons, not Neurologists, perform any surgical procedures required but the two specialities, by necessity, have to work closely together.

Closely allied to the Neurology team are our Neurophysiology consultants, who undertake electrical studies on the nervous system. These include nerve conduction tests (NCT) and electromyograms (EMG) which are electrical stimulation tests looking at the function of nerves and muscles, for example, in the hands and feet. Neurophysiologists also interpret electroencephalograms (EEG) brain wave tests which are used in the diagnosis of patients with seizures and epilepsy.