Skip to Main Content
Care calculator » 

What does a neurologist do on your first visit?

On your first visit with a neurologist, you should expect the physician to take a careful medical history, review your current medications, and ask about your recent neurological symptoms that may have prompted this visit, such as headaches, seizures, dizziness, or memory problems.  If you have had prior neurological testing, you should bring these results for the physician to review.

The neurologist will then do an extensive physical exam focusing on the nervous system, including your nerves and muscles. 

He or she may order blood work or imaging tests such as MRI or CT scans of the head or spine to help diagnose your condition.  Other common tests can include an EMG (electromyogram), which tests for the interaction of a nerve and its related muscle, and an EEG (electroencephalograph), which is a test that monitors brain function and helps diagnose seizures.  In cases of suspected infection, a spinal tap (also called lumbar puncture) may be performed.

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

Sidecar Health offers and administers a variety of plans including ACA compliant and excepted benefit plans. Coverage and plan options may vary or may not be available in all states.

Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure.You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed. Provider data, including price data, provided in part by Turquoise Health.

The site is not a substitute for medical or healthcare advice and does not serve as a recommendation for a particular provider or type of medical or healthcare.