Developmental screening occurs during your child’s well-child exams. At Pediatric Associates at Ridge, an experienced pediatrician Maria Hoffman-Guardia, MD, use developmental screenings to identify possible childhood problems early in life so you can take action to keep your child healthy and happy. Call the McAllen, Texas, office or use the online scheduling feature now.
A developmental screening checks on your child’s development. These screenings can identify children at risk for physical, mental, or emotional delays or issues. Screenings can also help determine when children need a more comprehensive developmental evaluation.
At Pediatric Associates at Ridge, experienced professionals perform all developmental screenings. Developmental screening involves using standardized guidelines to check motor skills, cognition, speech, and emotional development.
During every well-child exam, your child’s medical care provider looks for specific milestones like responding to their own name and rolling over at 6 months old or saying simple words and starting to take a few steps by 1 year old. This is developmental screening on a smaller scale, but full developmental screenings are more in-depth and less frequent.
Developmental screenings involve specific questionnaires or checklists. Your contribution is essential during developmental screenings, as you’re the one who can best answer specific questions about your child. You’ll answer questions about your child’s movement, thinking, behavior, emotions, and communication.
Developmental screenings are a routine part of child care in your baby’s first few years, and all children need them. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends developmental screening as part of well-child visits at 9, 18, and 30 months of age. They also recommend screening for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at 18 and 24 months.
Some children might need more frequent or earlier developmental screenings, particularly if they have a higher risk of developmental issues due to prematurity or other factors.
For example, a recent study in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry demonstrated a strong link between motor skill problems and speech delays. Developmental screening can detect potential problems as early as possible.
A developmental evaluation is a more detailed and formal assessment of your child’s development. If your child’s developmental screening indicates a possible issue, a developmental evaluation investigates using more comprehensive testing and questionnaires.
After a developmental evaluation, Pediatric Associates at Ridge can develop a plan for early intervention, treatment, or whatever else your child needs.
Schedule your child’s appointment by calling Pediatric Associates at Ridge or click the online scheduling feature now.