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About Gail L Kennedy, MD
Dr. Kennedy is a pediatrician, which is a health professional who provides medical care to children. She offers comprehensive care for infants, kids & teenagers. As a pediatrician, Dr. Kennedy functions as a primary care provider, or the first point of contact when a patient is sick. Dr. Kennedy provides care and coordinates with the patient's family to ensure healthy growth and development.
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602 West University Avenue, IL, 61801
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(217) 383-3100
Frequently Asked Questions
Your pediatrician might be able to administer screenings, but most general doctors are not trained to formally diagnose autism. They might refer you to a qualified diagnostic clinician which include:
- Developmental Pediatricians
- Child Psychologists
- Child Psychiatrists
- Pediatric Neurologists
- Pediatric Neuropsychologists
Your experience might look different depending on the type of clinician you choose. Many families prefer working with developmental pediatricians. Others might work with a psychiatrist or another specialist to get a different perspective.
A formal ASD diagnosis, or a medical diagnosis, helps you get the support your family needs, especially within the context of accessing medically necessary therapies and services.
- Insurance Coverage for Therapies: Medically necessary therapies for ASD are often covered by insurance including, but not limited to, speech therapy, ABA therapy, and occupational therapy.
- Financial Support: A diagnosis is required when applying for social security or disability benefits.
- Plan for Care: A diagnosis helps identify your child’s support needs. For example, your child might need to develop social communication and self-regulation skills.
- Future Research: The more data we gather through evaluations, the more we can improve services for autistic children and adults.
Check out Autism Diagnosis: The Complete Guide for Parents for more information.
When you visit a neurologist, they’ll assess your child’s needs, run some tests (think imaging or EEG), and diagnose. From there, they’ll create a customized treatment plan. Medication, lifestyle tweaks, or maybe even a referral to another specialist could be on the table.
There unfortunately isn’t one test for all neurodevelopmental conditions. Most likely you will go into a visit to test one or two medical conditions. If you are looking for a comprehensive autism evaluation, developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists are the preferred specialists who can diagnose autism.
No, neurologists focus mainly on non-surgical interventions. If your child needs surgery, neurologists might point you in the direction of a pediatric neurosurgeon.