Developmental Screening Specialist

What is developmental screening?

Developmental screening with the team at Cool Kidz Pediatrics includes a comprehensive evaluation of your child’s growth and motor, cognitive, social, and emotional development to detect or rule out treatable problems.

Developmental screening helps your pediatrician assess your child’s risk of developmental delays and other issues they might encounter during childhood. Examples include slowed growth or maturation, speech delays, autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), problems with motor skills, cognitive delays, social problems, and more.

What should I expect during developmental screening?

When your child arrives at Cool Kidz Pediatrics for developmental screening, which often occurs during child wellness checkups, expect the following:

• Height and weight assessments
• Growth chart evaluation
• Fine and gross motor skills screening
• Cognitive development evaluation
• Speech and language assessments
• Interpersonal communication screening
• Social and emotional screening
• Mental health assessments

To complete each assessment, Cool Kidz Pediatrics providers ask your child questions if they’re old enough, ask questions to parents or caregivers, and might recommend your child complete specific tasks right in the office. Doing so helps pediatricians gauge how well your child is developing and maturing compared with other children of the same age and gender group.

Certain motor, cognitive, social, and emotional delays can interfere with your child’s learning, development, and relationships. Some developmental delays in children and teens warrant additional diagnostic testing, more extensive evaluation, and treatment in some instances.

What happens if my child has a developmental delay?

If your child has a delay in their growth or development, it’s not necessarily a cause for concern. Some children catch up with their peers over time without any intervention. If developmental screening indicates a potential problem for your child, the Cool Kidz Pediatrics team might recommend:

• Watchful waiting
• Taking medications
• Hormone treatments
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Behavioral modification therapy
• Specialist referrals

Your Cool Kidz Pediatrics provider works with your child to optimize their growth, development, and overall quality of life. They can also refer out to highly-trained specialists as needed to help your child catch up with their peers developmentally.

To schedule your child’s next annual exam or developmental screening, call the Cool Kidz Pediatrics office or use the online scheduler today.