Pediatric chiari specialist in Houston

[giasmom2011]

Anyone have any recommendations for a pediatric neurologist in the Houston area? My daughter was diagnosed in July with a chiari 1 malformation. She is 18 months old. We have not had a good experience with her current neurologist's office and was wondering if there was a better choice. There doesn't seem to be that many pediatric chiari specialists in the Houston area.

We had the MRI done because a CAT scan came back suspicous for a chiari 1 malformation. She had the CAT scan to determine the cause of a hearing loss. Does anyone have any experience with chiari and hearing loss? She has a hearing aid, but I have been told that her hearing may fluctuate because of the chiari malformation. If anyone has any experience with this I would really appreciate your comments.

Also, how much should an MRI and flow study cost? We have decent insurance, but were shocked at how much it was. Before insurance it was $18,000. This seemed really high, but since she is an infant she has to be put under anesthesia so we weren't sure.

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

Many of us have found it best to research NS's even once u find a Chiari specialist as  u will want to compare them and go with the one u feel most comfortable with and ur child is with as well....we need to have confidence in our Dr in order to do well.

We do have a list of Drs in TX, I can't say which r ped drs...u will need to research...and I do not refer and the list is not a referral either just a means to give u a place to start looking....

U will find a list of Drs in the Health pages as well as other helpful info and tips - http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/list?cid=186

[MicheleTxRN]

Dr. Nihum in Temple, TX is a NS that operates on Chiari's at the children'ts hospital where I work..I am a pediatric nurse. I will ask Dr. Nihum who he recommends as a NL.